In line with the recent ban on giant microblogging site, Twitter, by the Federal Government of Nigeria penultimate Friday, there have been fresh orders given to the other social media operating in the country. The regulatory agencies saddled with such constitutional prerogative to implement policies of this nature is the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). NBC on Thursday, June 10, 2021 issued a notice to all social media in the country to obtain its operating licenses.

By this new directive, social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok etc. are required by law to do accordingly. This was made known by the Director-General of NBC, Armstrong Idachaba. Furthermore, the regulatory body warns sternly that any online media found wanton shall be considered an illegal entity and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He was quoted as saying: “The commission shall have responsibility of receiving, processing and considering applications for the establishment, ownership or operation of radio and television stations including cable television services, Direct Satellite Broadcast (DSB), and any medium of broadcasting. “The National Broadcasting Commission hereby directs every Online Broadcast Service provider and social media platforms operating within the Nigerian state to apply and obtain broadcast licence for their service(s),”.