The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to take urgent steps to revive Nigeria’s radio sector, warning that regulatory pressures and policy neglect threaten one of the country’s most accessible media platforms.
In a statement marking World Radio Day 2026, the organization said radio remains uniquely placed to strengthen democratic participation and social inclusion despite rapid technological change. Its affordability, reach and cultural resonance, MRA argued, makes it indispensable, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“Since its introduction in Nigeria in 1933, radio has been a lifeline for millions,” the statement said, describing the medium as a trusted source for timely news, emergency alerts, cultural expression and civic engagement. Even as digital media expands across Africa, radio continues to be the primary source of information for large segments of Nigeria’s population, bridging literacy gaps and connecting citizens to governance processes.
However, MRA lamented that the sector has been largely neglected as digital technologies reshape the media landscape, while what it described as insensitive, and sometimes rapacious—regulatory practices further undermine radio’s viability.
According to MRA Programme Officer Adesewa Akintokun, Nigeria could significantly boost radio’s impact through a mix of policy reform, technological innovation, content development and sustainable financing. She urged authorities to adopt a transparent, non-punitive regulatory framework, simplify licensing processes and reduce excessive fees, particularly for community and campus radio stations.
“Regulatory certainty is essential to encourage investment and innovation,” Akintokun said, advocating protections for editorial independence across public and private broadcasters and safeguards against arbitrary sanctions.
She also urged radio owners and managers to adapt to changing audience habits by embracing digital broadcasting and streaming platforms. With high mobile phone penetration nationwide, she noted, online radio and podcasts could help reach urban youth audiences increasingly disengaged from traditional FM and AM services.
On content, Akintokun called for renewed investment in investigative journalism and public-interest programming, alongside youth-focused shows and expanded coverage of health, entrepreneurship, agriculture and digital literacy.
“The enduring value of radio depends on its freedom,” she said, warning that independent broadcasting cannot thrive where journalists face harassment, licenses are politically manipulated or content is unduly restricted. She called on governments at all levels to uphold constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and create an enabling environment for diverse, community-based radio stations.
MRA reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of broadcasters and journalists, promoting access to information and advancing media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy in Nigeria.