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Uncertain future for the media in Uganda

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Uncertain future for the media in Uganda

The state of  press freedom in Uganda keeps deteriorating with each passing day.

Uganda is currently ranked number 132 out of 180 countries under the World Press Freedom Index 2022. Legal and sociopolitical restrictions continues to limit freedom of expression in Uganda. Journalists in the country face alarming dangers for critical reportage against President Yoweri Museveni’s style of governance.

In its latest report, Press Freedom Index 2022, Human Rights Network of Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), reported 94 cases of human rights abuse and violations against journalists, and media houses.

According to HRNJ-Uganda, the hostile environment in which journalists and other media practitioners operate in Uganda has created endless tension and fear. In the face of these challenges, a considerable number of journalists have resorted to self-censorship, limiting press and media freedom.

World Press Freedom Day 2023: Statement by Media Institute for Southern Africa

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World Press Freedom Day 2023: Statement by Media Institute for Southern Africa
Thus, the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day – Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights – is quite apt as it serves as a reminder of the centrality of freedom of expression in the enjoyment of all other human rights.

Media freedom and freedom of expression are increasingly facing challenges in Southern Africa as countries in the region enact laws that have an adverse effect on these rights.

In the past decade, Southern Africa made tremendous strides in improving the media freedom legislative environment, with the enactment of laws that guaranteed access to information, while freedom of the media became a constitutionally guaranteed right in most countries.

However, despite this progress, countries are increasingly enacting laws that negatively impact the right to access to information and the right to free expression.

For example, Botswana has enacted the Criminal Procedure and Evidence (Controlled Investigations) Act, while Mozambique has the Social Communications Law and is drawing up a law that will affect the operations of civil society. Malawi has also enacted a similar law.

The Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill is at an advanced stage of being enacted in Zimbabwe, while the country is also coming up with amendments to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, that will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

This is coupled with the introduction of laws across the region that criminalise the publication of falsehoods. Some countries have also come up with cyber security laws that ostensibly are meant to protect data online but, in essence, criminalise defamation and the publication of falsehoods.

Research and court rulings have proved that criminalising defamation and the publication of falsehoods has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and of the media.

Internet shutdowns are increasingly seen as a tool for shutting down critical voices, such as what happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the past few years.

There are also emerging threats that come with the growth of the digital ecosystem, among them, cyberbullying, particularly of female journalists.

Thus, the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day – Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights – is quite apt as it serves as a reminder of the centrality of freedom of expression in the enjoyment of all other human rights.

Freedom of expression is an enabling right for the enjoyment of other rights and when it is under threat, as it is right now, other rights also face similar threats. It is important to point out that all human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated.

Freedom of expression’s function as an enabler of all other rights has been explored and is the cornerstone of many international human rights treaties.

It is imperative for Southern African countries to strongly stress and emphasise the importance of freedom of expression and centre it in the overall discussions of human rights.

It is, therefore, important that Southern African countries revisit the problematic laws that infringe on freedom of expression and of the media. In their stead, they should develop laws that adhere to African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights declarations and protocols.

In addition, laws should stick to international standards on human rights and United Nations charters and declarations.

By doing so, regional countries will be building towards a future that is based on the respect for human rights and democratic governance.

A free, pluralistic and independent media is key for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (The Africa we want).

Thus, this World Press Freedom Day should serve as an opportune time for us to pause and imagine what kind of a future we want for Southern Africa.

In dreaming of a better future, it should be one that puts human rights at the core of everything, with freedom of expression being at the centre, considering its role as enabler of all other rights.

MISA Regional Chairperson

Golden Maunganidze

World Press Freedom Day 2023: MRA Calls on Nigerian government to ensure adequate protection for media freedom

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World Press Freedom Day 2023: MRA Calls on Nigerian government to ensure adequate protection for media freedom

LAGOS, Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection for media freedom in law and in practice, saying the relentless attacks on the media over the years had also undermined the general human rights protection for all Nigerians, democracy and sustainable development in the country.

In a statement to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day and the 30th anniversary of proclamation of the Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, MRA said by strengthening the right to freedom of expression, which is a critical human right that serves as a driver for all other human rights, the Government could ensure a future where all other human rights are adequately protected and respected in Nigeria.

MRA’s Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, noted in the statement that given enormous duty imposed on the media by the Constitution, particularly Section 22, which requires the media sector to ensure that the Government lives up to its responsibilities to the people and to hold the Government accountable, the failure to provide adequate protection for the media was impeding its ability to perform these functions upon which good governance, democracy and sustainable development in Nigeria depend.

He said:  “The clear evidence before us is that no other sector of the Nigerian society has faced such relentless attacks for decades as the media sector has had to endure. By placing the responsibility of policing a powerful institution like the Government on the media without adequate or commensurate protections, the media has been made a target for attacks by all corrupt or incompetent government officials seeking to hide their misdeeds or mistakes.”

Observing that this year’s World Press Freedom Day is being commemorated with the theme “Shaping a future of rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights”, Mr. Longe said “It is only in an environment where freedom of expression is adequately protected and respected that citizens can have the confidence to engage in public discourse; criticize government policies and officials; make meaningful contributions to policies; advocate for their own rights as well as the rights of others.”

MRA also called on the incoming Administration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make a commitment to protect media freedom and to do so by, among other things, reviewing and amending existing laws and regulations to ensure they provide robust legal protections for freedom of expression, in conformity with international standards; taking steps to ensure the safety of journalists, offline and online, as well as by investigating and prosecuting attacks on journalists, and holding perpetrators accountable.

For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale (Mr.)
Communications Officer,
Media Rights Agenda
E-mail: idowu[@]mediarightsagenda.org

World Press Freedom Day 2023: Statement by Centre for Media Studies and Peacebuilding

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World Press Freedom Day 2023: Statement by Centre for Media Studies and Peacebuilding

May 3, 2023

The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding  (CEMESP) extends warm sentiments to Journalists and media workers  in observance of World Press Freedom Day.

Freedom of the press—the right to report news or circulate opinion without censorship from the government or anyone else we all know is considered one of the great bulwarks of liberty, by a significant number of people around the world.

Liberians enjoy freedom of the press as one of the rights guaranteed by the constitution, and it is this right that World Press Freedom Day seeks to protect and advance.

Since the 1991 proclamation by UNESCO, World Press Freedom Day continues to amplify awareness over how key it is to dedicate our efforts to safeguard press freedom, and at the same time point out the vital role that journalists and media workers do play in fostering the culture of democracy, accountability, and protecting the rights that are too often denied.

In the discharge of these roles and responsibilities, many outstanding journalists have sadly died, some are either behind bars, held hostage or treated in unacceptable manners to deter others from holding the power that be accountable.

While Freedom of expression has considerably advanced in recent years, threats, harassment and censorship of the media remains pervasive.

As reported by the US State Department, Liberian “government officials have occasionally harassed newspaper radio station owners, and individual journalists, because of their political opinions and reporting”. Sadly, last year unknown men caused extensive damage to a radio station in Lofa during an alleged April 23 arson attack.  On June 29, 2022, two LNP officers reportedly threatened to shoot Emmanuel Kollie, a reporter with the state-owned broadcasting system, and Amos Korzawu, a reporter for Fortune TV, while  covering a political rally. Local and international rights groups have also recorded censorship or “Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media”, forcing some journalists into unacceptable self-censorship to avoid harassment.

As different global speech defenders, gather in various parts of the world to commemorate the 3oth anniversary  celebration of World Press Freedom Day under the theme: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”, CEMESP is urging the Government of Liberia and all of its state and security institutions to unequivocally commit to protect freedom of the press at all levels.

The government of Liberia must continue to widen the civil space for free and unhindered expressions to fulfill its commitments under local and international conventions.

The Center for Media studies and Peacebuilding is committed to advancing all the enabling elements of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights.

In January this year, CEMESP with support from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) launched a Comprehensive National Framework for the safety of journalists in Liberia.

The Comprehensive National Framework will consolidate coordination among Liberian state securities and media actors to ensure the safety of journalists especially during the October 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Finally, CEMESP wishes to express the significance of responsible, ethical journalism- a collective responsibility to abide by a code of ethics to avoid conflicts of interest that may compromise integrity or impartiality.

The importance of responsible journalism has never been more critical than now.

Professional journalists have an even greater responsibility  in today’s Liberia to champion the truth, disprove fake news, and fact-check trending narratives to ensure the public has access to reliable information online. When do we start identifying and applying journalism ethics? It is now more than ever!

Southern Africa improves on media rankings but more needs to be done – MISA

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Southern Africa improves on media rankings but more needs to be done – MISA

Southern African countries recorded improved rankings according to the Reporters Without Borders 2023 World Press Freedom Index, but the spectre of shrinking civic space continues to haunt the region.

Botswana halted the slide it recorded in 2022, improving from a ranking of 95 to 65 in 2023. Zambia continued its impressive improvement on the World Press Freedom Index, moving from 109 to 87.

Zimbabwe, which had recorded successive declines in the past three years, also recorded an improvement, moving from 137 in 2022 to 126 in 2023.

Other countries that recorded gains were Eswatini, moving to 111 from 131, Lesotho from 88 to 67 and Mozambique from 116 to 102.

South Africa also improved from 35 to 25.

However, despite these improvements, some countries recorded declines. Namibia, which has been the torch bearer in terms of freedom of expression in Southern Africa fell from 18 to 22 this year.

Despite this fall, Namibia reclaimed its spot as Africa’s leading country in terms of press freedom from Seychelles. Seychelles, which was ranked an impressive 13 in 2022, fell to 34 in 2023.

Malawi, which was ranked 80th in 2022, declined slightly to 82. Angola fell from 99 to 125, the worst decline of a Southern African country.

Tanzania took the wooden spoon of being the worst ranked country in Southern Africa, falling from 123 to 143.

The countries are ranked on several indicators among them politics, economics, legislative social and security.

A total of 180 countries were ranked.

Commenting on the latest rankings, MISA Regional Director Tabani Moyo said there was need to sustain the quest for media freedom and build on the improvements over the past year.

“This is just the beginning, there is need to continue on this trajectory and ensure improvement in the media environment across the region,” he said.

“However, as we celebrate these gains, we should be wary that shrinking civic space continues to hang over the heads of a number of Southern African countries like the sword of Damocles.”

Moyo was referring to the enactment of laws that could further shrink civic space in the region such as the NGO Act in Malawi, the proposed NGO Bill in Mozambique and the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill in Zimbabwe.

In addition, a raft of cybersecurity laws in countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe pose a serious threat to freedom of expression in Southern Africa.

MISA is a regional non-governmental organisation with members in 8 of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries. Officially launched in September 1992, MISA focuses primarily on the need to promote free, independent and pluralistic media, as envisaged in the 1991 Windhoek Declaration.    

Enquiries:
MISA Regional Secretariat
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel/Fax: +264 242 776 165/ 746 838
Email: [email protected]
https://misa.org

Media coalition in Ghana calls for repeal of false publication laws

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Media coalition in Ghana calls for repeal of false publication laws

The Media Foundation of West Africa (MFWA) with three other media organisations has called on the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo to annul aspects of two laws which continue to criminalize free expression even though Ghana repealed its criminal libel law two decades ago.

The call which was made by the MFWA together Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Private Newspapers Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) in a joint press conference on Thursday, April 20, specified the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) and the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as the laws in question.

The coalition particularized Section 76 of Act 775 and Section 208 of Act 29 as the problematic provisions of the laws. Originally targeted at the publication of false information, the two provisions have continuously been used by authorities to harass, arrest and prosecute journalists over their work.

“We recognize that the media and journalists can sometimes be reckless and unprofessional to the extent of publishing false and defamatory stories. Fortunately, the laws of the country provide aggrieved entities remedies for civil actions against citizens, journalists and media organizations.

“It is regrettable, therefore, that repressive provisions of the Electronic Communications Act and the Criminal and other offences Act are being weaponized to muzzle free speech under the Akufo-Addo regime,” said the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.

On behalf of the GJA which is a leading member of the coalition, Mr. Dwumfour who addressed the press demanded: “repeal these two laws!”

The press conference comes in the wake of the recent detention of a Radio Ada journalist, Noah Dameh, over a Facebook post concerning business mogul and CEO of the McDan Group of companies, Daniel McKorley. Mr. McKorley’s company, Electrochem, has been facing indigens’ resistance after it was controversially awarded a contract by the government to mine salt at Ada in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region.

Noah Dameh has been in and out of detention after he was first charged with publishing false news in August 2022 and subsequently remanded into custody by a court in March 2023.

The Radio Ada journalist has not been the only victim – in February 2022, the Police arrested Accra FM journalist, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah on the charge of publication of false news and offensive conduct for a video he posted on social media which claimed that the President’s wife had illegally acquired state lands.

In February of the same year, the Executive Director of an anti-corruption organization, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, was arrested by the police for publishing allegations that members of the President’s family travelled by the Presidential jet to the UK for shopping.

The coalition points out that these arrests and prosecutions are totally unbecoming of the government led by President Akufo-Addo who actually oversaw the repeal of the criminal libel law when he was Attorney General of the John Kufuor government in 2001. The press conference also reminded the President about his position on the problematic provisions in question in a lecture he granted in 2011, labelling them as unconstitutional.

“Our job is basically to remind him that, Mr. President, these were your views, we are still operating the same constitution, we are still talking about the same laws and these positions that you upheld are basically what we are saying we are in support of. You know we support you and we want you to take action in line with your convictions at that time,” said Mr. Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the MFWA who also addressed the press conference.

Ghana officially repealed its criminal libel and seditious law on July 27, 2001. However, in the years after that, Section 76 of Act 775 and Section 208 of Act 29, have proven to be vestiges of these repealed laws. The MFWA has long campaigned for their repeal making the current call yet another rehash.

Here‘s the full statement read at the press conference.

First Lady of Zimbabwe bars private media from covering her tour

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First Lady of Zimbabwe bars private media from covering her tour

What happened

Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa on 24 April 2023 reportedly barred journalists from the private media from covering her tour of the Museum of African Liberation in Harare.

According to NewsDay in its edition of 25 April 2023, her security aides said only journalists from the State media were allowed to cover the event.

Meanwhile, a BUSTOP TV news crew said they faced challenges in Epworth, Harare, on 22 April 2023 where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was handing over title deeds to residents of the area.

MISA Zimbabwe is on record saying journalists should be allowed to cover public events without any hindrance, regardless of the media houses they work for because this enhances citizens’ access to information.

IPC condemns attacks on journalists during governorship elections in Nigeria

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For immediate release, March 18, 2023

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos is highly disturbed by the reported incidents of attacks on journalists and other media professionals covering the today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in some parts of the country including Lagos, Ogun and Rivers States.

IPC’s JOURNALISTS’ -ELECTION-DAY-SAFETY-ALERT-DESK has confirmed that AIT Reporters and cameramen including Henrietta Oke, Amarachi Amushie and Nkiru Nwokedi were molested and prevented from covering the elections at some polling units in Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye and Amuwo Odofin local government areas by political thugs and hoodlums.
Journalist Nwokedi temporarily lost her phone before it was recovered with the help of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) men while Journalist Amushie was rough handled, her camera damaged and the cameraman beaten in the presence of a political chieftain.

The Alert Desk also established that Arise TV News crew comprising Reporter Oba Adeoye,
Cameraman Opeyemi Adenihun and driver Yusuf Hassan was attacked while covering voting in Elegushi area of Lagos.

“The cameraman, Opeyemi Adenihun suffered facial injuries while drones and equipment were seized” according to the news medium.

In Ogun State, News Agency of Nigeria’s reporter, Adejoke Adeleye, was among journalists molested in Itori Odo Area of Abeokuta South Local government where they faced mob attack by political thugs who equally reportedly assaulted INEC officials with axes and allegedly destroyed ballot boxes.

The details also include the denial of access to journalists who tried to capture voting in the polling unit of PDP Governorship candidate in Rivers State by some “overzealous police officers”.

“The policemen refused passage despite the proof of identity provided by the journalists” the report from Rivers stated

IPC strongly condemns these unacceptable attacks which constitute both the violation of the fundamental rights of the affected journalists and media workers and major assault on press freedom.

“Following the attacks on journalists during the presidential and national Assembly elections on February 25, we had called on the Police, the Political Parties and all concerned to take measures to protect them today. It is therefore worrisome that such attacks have been repeated”, the Press Freedom and Safety Alert Desk Officer of IPC, Melody Lawal said in a statement.

Mrs. Lawal charged the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the various attacks and ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their illegal and actions.

SGD:
Melody Lawal
Press Freedom. Officer, IPC
[email protected]

AFEX demands unconditional release of Somali journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin

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AFEX demands unconditional release of Somali journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin

The African Freedom of Exchange (AFEX) strongly condemns the rearrest of freelance journalist and press freedom advocate Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, and urges the Somali authorities to release the journalist unconditionally.

Police officers arrested the cofounder and secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), a local media rights group, on February 23, 2023 in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. According to the SJS and other media sources, Mumin was arrested without any warrant nor explanation at Jazeera Hotel. He had attend a public event held there by the Senate finance committee as a speaker.

The journalist was arrested on orders of the regional police chief Mahdi Omar Mumin and taken to the Mogadishu central Prison, the SJS and three other Somali media rights organisations said.

“Somali government officials and security forces must refrain from further persecution against the media freedom advocate and union leader Abdalle Ahmed Mumin. We also call on Somalia’s international partners to publicly condemn this political witch-hunt against SJS Secretary General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin and ask Somalia government to respect the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression,” the group added.

The new arrest of Mumin adds a new unfortunate development to four months of judicial harassment since Mumin’s first arrest in October 2022 on alleged security-related charges. Recently on February 13, 2023, the Banadir Regional Court sentenced Mumin to two months in jail on the same charges. However, an unexpected event occurred as Mumin was freed on arrival at the prison facility by the authorities when they found that he had served more than four months of detention prior the sentence.

AFEX is appalled by the Somali authorities’ inclination to muzzle critical journalism and press freedom in the country. We call on the Somali judicial authorities and government to release journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin without any conditions and refrain from any future harassment of the journalists for exercising his profession.

Prison officers refuse to jail Somali journalist sentenced to two months in prison

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Prison officers refuse to jail Somali journalist sentenced to two months in prison

Prison authorities in Mogadishu have set free journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, after he was sentenced to two months in prison. The Banadir Regional Court sentenced Secretary-General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Abdalle Ahmed Mumin to two months in jail, on February 13, 2023 on security-related charges.

The presiding judge, Salah Ali Mohamud, cited Article 505 (non-observance of orders of the authorities) of Somalia’s penal code in delivering the ruling. The journalist was initially charged under three articles of the Somali penal code, namely, Article 219 (Bringing the Nation or the State into contempt), Article 321 (Instigation to disobey the laws), and Article 505 (non-observance of orders of the authorities) of the Somali penal code.

However, after the ruling, an unexpected event occurred as Mumin was released shortly after.

In a statement published on their website, the SJS said that, “after delivering the sentence, the judge ordered Abdalle to be handcuffed but the police officers turned down his order. When Abdalle was taken to the Mogadishu Central Prison, the officers there reviewed the verdict letter and found that Abdalle has served more than four months of detention resulting his immediate freedom. Abdalle was then allowed to go free.”

Mumin also confirmed his release in a post on twitter “this morning, Banadir Court judge, who was reading a pre-drafted letter sentenced me to 2 months in jail despite the fact I was detained 5 months ago. To my surprise, when I was taken to #Mogadishu central prison, officers refused to jail me granting my immediate freedom. I went straight to my office to conduct my daily routine. I will continue to be on the forefront of defending press freedom and human rights in #Somalia.”

Mumin’s ordeal started more than 120 days ago when he was arrested on October 11, 2022 at the Aden Adde International Airport in the capital Mogadishu by officers of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). The media rights advocate was arrested shortly after he published on his Twitter account a CCTV footage, reportedly from the premises of the SJS’ office in Mogadishu the previous night showing security forces trying to break into the office.

While we welcome Mumin’s release, we are disappointed about the court’s ruling and urge the Somali authorities  to bring to an end the repeated violation of Mumin’s rights.

Community radio vandalized by rebels

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Community radio vandalized by rebels
A great number of the low-frequency equipment of the Community Radio for Peace of Bashali (Radio Communautaire pour la Paix de Bashali, RCPB) broadcasting from Kitshanga, about 170 km from the city of Goma, in Masisi territory, were taken away by soldiers of the so-called March 23 rebellion (M23) and others were vandalized, according to several sources confirmed by JED.

“It was in the evening of February 4 that armed men of the M23 forced their way into our radio station and took away the following equipment: the converter, 8 batteries, 2 printers, 1 desk-top, 1 inverter, 12 chairs, 1 stabiliser, 4 microphones, 1 sound card, 4 headphones and destroyed 9 solar panels, 1 generator of 5 KVA, 1 coaxial cable, 1 connection box, 7 doors as well as the main door of the station,” said Innocent Byamungu, head of RCPB.

The station’s staff are currently in hiding in the area, fearing for their safety. He did manage to save the transmitter, which was a gift from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The equipment taken away is now being sold in the city of Kitshanga at a low price by the rebels, Innocent adds from his hiding place.

When contacted by JED, officials of both the political and military wings of the M23, who oversee the area, denied the allegations but promised to conduct their own investigations into the accusations.

World Radio Day: MRA Calls on Government, Regulator to Embark on Comprehensive Reform of Broadcast Sector

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World Radio Day: MRA Calls on Government, Regulator to Embark on Comprehensive Reform of Broadcast Sector

Lagos, Monday, February 13, 2023:  Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today called on the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to take advantage of the opportunity presented by this year’s World Radio Day to undertake a comprehensive reform of the broadcast sector to entrench broadcasting freedom in Nigeria and enable radio in particular to achieve its full potential.

In a statement issued in Lagos on the occasion of the 2023 World Radio Day themed “Radio and Peace”, MRA noted that despite advancements in information and communications technologies (ICTs), which have provided societies with many different options for public communications, radio remains the most sought-after and effective medium of mass communication in many parts of the world, particularly during periods of conflict and emergencies.

In the statement, MRA’s Communications Officer, Mr. Idowu Adewale, noted that: “Radio has long been recognized as a vital tool for promoting peace, stability and conflict resolution. In times of crisis, it provides a source of reliable information and can help to dispel myths and misinformation that can fuel or aggravate conflict.”

He however observed that the strangulating regulatory environment for the broadcast media in Nigeria was not only stifling innovation and creativity in radio broadcasting, but is also destroying public trust in the radio as a reliable and independent source of news and information.

Mr. Adewale called on the Federal Government and the NBC to work with other stakeholders in the radio broadcast sector to enhance the use of radio as a means of disseminating information that would help foster peace, especially in the Nigerian context where violent conflicts and unrests, which have become quite common amid the scarcity of fuel, the inadequate supply of electricity, the challenges posed by the currency re-design as well as other crises rocking the country.

Highlighting the importance of radio in fostering peace and stability, he said:  “Radio continues to be a vital source of information and news for millions of people around the world, especially in remote and rural areas where other forms of media are not easily accessible. It remains a crucial tool for safeguarding freedom of expression and promoting cultural diversity, and it is a vital platform for promoting peace and tolerance.”

Mr. Adewale therefore urged all stakeholders to use radio as a tool to promote peace and stability, stressing that “We believe that radio has the power to bring people together, promote dialogue and understanding, and help bring an end to conflict. It is up to us to make sure that this important medium is used in a manner that can enable it to achieve its full potential.”

UNESCO’s 36th General Conference on November 3, 2011, proclaimed February 13 World Radio Day, to remember the unique power of radio to touch lives and bring people together across every corner of the globe.

For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale (Mr.)
Communications Officer,
Media Rights Agenda
[email protected]

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