Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged broadcasters to uphold accuracy, fairness and professional ethics in their coverage of the 2027 general elections, saying responsible broadcasting is essential to protecting democracy.
Idris made the call on Monday in Bauchi in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, at the third Annual National Conference of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB). The minister’s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim.
The minister said the extensive reach of broadcasting places a professional responsibility on media practitioners to ensure that information presented to the public is accurate, verified and properly contextualised.
He stressed that responsible broadcasting should not be interpreted as favourable coverage, noting that broadcasters must continue to scrutinise government, political parties, candidates and public institutions.
According to Idris, professional broadcasters should distinguish clearly between facts, allegations, opinions and unverified claims, particularly as artificial intelligence and social media platforms have made it easier for manipulated and false content to spread.
He said verification should remain a central part of newsroom practice rather than an occasional exercise.
The minister also cautioned broadcasters against hate speech, ethnic and religious provocation and the deliberate dissemination of false information during the 2027 electoral period.
He, however, emphasised that responsible coverage should continue to provide room for legitimate political debate, scrutiny and criticism.
Idris further highlighted Federal Government initiatives in the broadcasting sector, including the Digital Switch Over (DSO) platform and the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and VON.
He said technological developments would continue to shape the future of broadcasting, but public confidence in the industry would depend on the professionalism of media practitioners.
The minister urged the SNB and broadcasters across the country to strengthen professional training, particularly in election reporting, fact-checking and verification, as well as measures to counter AI-generated misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The SNB conference, held from September 28 to 30, 2026, in Bauchi, is focused on responsible broadcasting, countering misinformation, promoting peace and strengthening democracy.
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