Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to extend its regulatory powers to online radio and television platforms to curb the spread of misinformation and hate speech.
The governor made the call during the Africast 2025 Conference organised by the NBC in Lagos, where media professionals and policymakers discussed emerging issues in the broadcast industry.
Represented by his Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf said the unregulated digital broadcasting space had become a “breeding ground for divisive and inflammatory content,” particularly on religion and politics.
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He urged the Commission to take proactive measures to ensure ethical standards and accountability in online broadcasting, warning that unverified content threatens national peace and unity.
“The unregulated online broadcasting environment has become a breeding ground for misinformation and hate speech. It is time for the NBC to take proactive measures to ensure accountability and ethical standards in the digital media space,” Yusuf said.
Responding to the governor’s submission, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information disclosed that the National Assembly is working on an amendment to the NBC Act to empower the Commission to regulate webcasts and digital broadcast platforms.
He said the amendment, which has passed first reading in the Senate, will ensure that online broadcasters are held to the same professional and ethical standards as traditional media outlets.
Governor Yusuf’s position aligns with his administration’s advocacy for responsible media practice and digital literacy. He was recently named the 2025 Media-Friendly Governor of the Year by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
