Nigeria’s Radio Stations Are Falling Behind — It’s Time for Regulation Reform

A few weeks ago, I received a message from Joan* (not her real name); a young radio presenter in Nigeria. She had just completed a virtual training session with us at The Radio Masterclass and was eager to start applying what she had learned: pre-recording her shows, editing her segments for clarity, and engaging listeners in real-time through call-ins and social media. But she was frustrated.

“I don’t even know how to start,” she said. “There’s no internet in the studio. We don’t have any way to record off-air. Even the phone lines don’t work. How am I supposed to improve?”

Joan's experience, unfortunately, is not unique. As a broadcast trainer working closely with young presenters across Nigeria, I hear stories like hers every week. These are talented, motivated individuals who want to grow, to innovate, to deliver engaging, modern radio. But they are trapped in outdated and under-resourced stations that offer them no tools to thrive.

Many radio stations in Nigeria operate without internet connectivity, without equipment to record or archive shows, without a functioning newsroom, and often without even the most basic tools for live listener engagement. There are no libraries or digital archives, no structured editorial processes, and little to no technical support.

What’s worse, most of these stations have no defined organizational structure, leaving young broadcasters with no mentorship, no feedback systems, and no clear path for growth.

This is more than an inconvenience; it’s a crisis of infrastructure and leadership that threatens the credibility and future of Nigeria’s broadcast industry. And yet, there seems to be no real urgency from the regulators tasked with safeguarding this sector.

Where Is the Regulator?

This is precisely where the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should come in. As the statutory regulatory body tasked with overseeing Nigeria’s broadcast sector, the NBC is expected to do more than issue licenses.

It should ensure stations meet operational, technical, and ethical standards — not only at inception, but throughout their life cycle.

However, what we see in practice is a regulatory framework that prioritizes licensing over sustainability. Once a station gets on air, consistent oversight becomes patchy or nonexistent. The result is a radio landscape where anything goes — with little accountability for the conditions under which content is produced or staff operate.

If NBC were truly focused on quality assurance, it would mandate periodic infrastructure and capacity audits for every licensed station. These audits should assess technical capabilities, staff training levels, newsroom integrity, editorial systems, and workplace structures. Unfortunately, that level of follow-through is missing.

NBC Needs Structural Reform

Even more pressing is the need to reform the very structure of the NBC. As a government agency, the NBC operates within the limits of bureaucracy, politics, and budgetary dependence. This severely restricts its autonomy and effectiveness, and makes it vulnerable to political interference.

To truly serve the broadcasting industry, NBC should be restructured into an independent regulatory authority, similar to models in more advanced democracies.

A compelling example is the Office of Communications (Ofcom) in the United Kingdom. Ofcom operates independently of the government, though it is accountable to Parliament. It issues licenses, enforces compliance, sets industry standards, and facilitates innovation; all without being tied to the political whims of the government in power. Its independence gives it credibility, and its transparency gives broadcasters confidence in the fairness of its oversight.

Learning from Global Best Practices

We don’t have to look too far to see the benefits of independent regulation. In South Africa, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) plays a similar role with much more success in media development and oversight through their relationship and engagement with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB); a voluntary, member-funded association of South Africa’s licensed broadcasters. Even in Ghana, the National Communications Authority (NCA) is moving toward more proactive engagement with digital transformation and infrastructure enforcement.

Nigeria, in contrast, is still stuck in a model that is more concerned with political control than with professional excellence. And while private investment in media continues to grow, the absence of strong, independent regulation leaves broadcasters operating in silos, often with no support, no standards, and no system for development.

What Needs to Change?

To revamp the sector, Nigeria must take bold steps:

1. Mandate Post-Licensing Oversight: NBC or its reformed successor must conduct regular operational assessments to ensure stations are meeting evolving standards, not just the criteria from their license application.

   
   

2. Infrastructure & Workforce Audits: Stations should be required to demonstrate basic operational readiness — from functioning newsrooms and libraries to structured editorial processes and trained staff.

   
   

3. Support Digital Integration: Rather than punishing struggling stations, the regulator should offer developmental support — grants, training, and incentives — to encourage the adoption of modern tools like audio archiving, and cloud-based production systems.

   
   

4. Restructure the NBC: Begin the process of transforming the NBC into a truly independent broadcast regulatory authority that is shielded from political interference and empowered to make decisions in the best interest of the industry.

   
   

5. Create Industry Development Policies: Partner with training institutions and industry associations to set minimum standards for training, talent development, and editorial leadership across stations.

   
   

Radio remains one of the most powerful tools of mass communication in Nigeria. It has unmatched reach, cultural influence, and social impact. But power without structure is chaos.

The current state of Nigerian radio is a reflection of neglect — not just from owners and operators, but from the very systems meant to protect and elevate the industry.

The time has come to rethink how we regulate broadcast media. If we want a competitive, ethical, and digitally savvy radio industry, we must build a regulatory framework that demands excellence — and supports those willing to achieve it.

It’s not just about raising the bar. It’s about building a system where that bar is never allowed to fall again.