Nigerian Dailies Protest Restrictive Media Bill

ABUJA - Nigerian newspapers are protesting legislation being considered in Parliament that would allow authorities to control the press. All Nigeria's national dailies on Monday had "Information Blackout" boldly printed on their front pages to raise support against the proposal.

The agreement to stage a front-page protest was reached last week during a meeting of the Nigerian Press Organization, NPO, in Lagos. The solidarity will continue Tuesday and Wednesday with the aim of raising awareness and mobilizing public support against the bills, which would give greater powers to two regulatory bodies — the Nigerian Press Council and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. Lawmakers said the bills are intended to curb fake news. But critics said the bills would give authorities the power to hit media outlets and journalists with huge fines and give journalists up to three years in jail.