Panel unanimously propose law that could curb rights crisis

Abuja, Nigeria – A panel of digital media experts and others have called on the  National Assembly to consider passage of the Digital Broadcast Freedom Bill, a legislative proposal aimed at curbing what they describe as a “growing rights crisis affecting the country’s digital broadcast landscape”. The bill which seeks to ensure maximum protection of the rights of citizens to access and disseminate information in the digital broadcast space without form of undue interference.

The media group, which is made up of journalists, civil society organisations, and national and independent broadcasters, released a statement on Wednesday during a conference in Abuja urging the National Assembly for the timely adoption of the bill by members. They emphasized that the proposed bill seeks to provide a legal framework to safeguard the freedom of digital broadcasters, preventing undue interference from regulatory bodies and government agencies.

With the rapid expansion of the digital media ecosystem and the growing influence of social platforms, governments worldwide including Nigeria, have been imposing more severe regulations aimed at mitigating the spread of false information and harmful content. However, critics claim that such measures often come at the expense of free speech.

“The foundation of any democratic society is the freedom of the media and the defence of citizens’ rights”. The group’s representative, Amina Yusuf, stated that the proposed Digital Broadcast Freedom Bill will guarantee a balance between civil freedoms and national interests.

She added by saying that if the measure is approved, it might act as a model for other areas of the Nation dealing with comparable rights concerns, offering a pathway to strengthen  democratic governance while promoting openness, unity, and national security.

However, the bill’s opponents rival that more control procedures ought to be incorporated to guard against any potential abuse, especially in the context of Nigeria’s political climate where freedom of speech is often under pressure. The Digital Awareness Initiative (DAI), the coalition groups leading the bill contends that freedom of expression—particularly in the digital broadcast sphere—is essential to Nigeria’s democratic growth.

Jonah Ubanmhen, the Group’s Director assets that, “Democracy thrives when citizens can speak truth to power without fear of retaliation, and it is crucial to prioritize regulatory frameworks that can foster innovation and help balance the interest of creators, broadcasters, and the public alike.”

As the national conversation on press freedoms continues to grow, media advocates emphasize that this bill will not only help in preventing rights crisis in digital broadcast space or other sectors,  but it will also help ensure the fundamental rights of all Nigerians to free expression, particularly in the digital age.