The NBC on Monday announced sanctions against AIT, Arise and Channels for allegedly violating its so-called broadcast code.

The government propaganda and speech police claimed the stations aired unverifiable videos on social media.

NBC chief Armstrong Idachaba at a press briefing on Monday said the stations will face penalties from N2 million upwards.

Mr. Idachaba threatened heavier sanctions if any of the stations were found using videos culled online.

AIT also faces a separate fine for using an “unverifiable news item” on the fire incident at the National Christian Centre. 

The station had purportedly retracted airing the video, but that was not sufficient to avoid sanctions, Mr. Idachaba said. 

The NBC was established during the military era to control public debates, but has continued to operate despite Nigeria’s strong constitutional safeguards for freedom of speech and expression. 

Bureaucrats at the government-run propaganda outlet regularly write stringent and often exploitative codes to stifle independent broadcasters.