Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to extend its regulatory reach to online radio and television platforms, warning that unmonitored digital broadcasts are fueling the spread of unverified and inflammatory content.
The appeal came during the Africast 2025 Conference in Lagos, a gathering of media professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders focused on the future of broadcasting. Represented by his Director-General on Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf highlighted the dangers posed by online platforms that circulate divisive content on religion and politics, stressing their potential impact on peace, unity, and national security.
“The unregulated online broadcasting environment has become a breeding ground for misinformation and hate speech. It is time for the NBC to act decisively, ensuring accountability and ethical standards across the digital media space,” he said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad.
The Governor’s concerns were welcomed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, who noted that the National Assembly is already moving to amend the NBC Act. The proposed changes, which have passed first reading in the Senate, would formally empower the Commission to regulate online broadcasters, holding them to the same standards as traditional media outlets.
This move marks a push toward a more accountable and professional digital broadcasting landscape, ensuring that online platforms contribute positively to public discourse rather than stoke division.
