The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Engr Yomi Bolarinwa has declared that the central place of broadcasting and its serious effect on the society has made it necessary for broadcast stations to exercise extreme caution in the coverage of elections and crises. 

He said this was because of the complex nature our society, which had diverse social, cultural, economic, political and religious configurations that needed to be harmonised for national development.

The Nigeria Broadcasting Code recognises that immediacy enables broadcasting to bring information on issues of national concern and crisis to the audience.  Also, recognising that the advantages of technology can be counter-productive, the Code insists that in the coverage of emergencies, broadcasters shall observe basic professional tenets including caution, empathy and due sensitivity in their coverage of emergencies, calamities, riots, grief, etc. 

The Code also stipulates that sensationalism shall be avoided by strictly refraining from speculations and statements, details or exaggerations that could aggravate mass panic or hysteria.

“I want to use this medium to warn all broadcasting stations that their duty to educate, inform and entertain shall not be at the expense of national interest, unity and cohesion,” Engr Bolarinwa declared.

The Director General stressed that Chief Executives of broadcast stations were to note that any station that violated the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in the coverage of elections or crises would have to face the full sanctions of the law.