Nigeria media guide

A man reads a newspaper on the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as WTO Secretary-General, in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, on February 16, 2021Getty Images

Nigeria's media scene is one of the liveliest in Africa. State radio and TV operate at federal and regional levels. All 36 states run at least one radio network and a TV station.

Nigeria is one of West Africa's most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Journalists are often threatened, subjected to physical violence, or denied access to information by officials and police. Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group, has threatened the media.

There are hundreds of radio stations and terrestrial TV networks, as well as cable and direct-to-home satellite offerings.

Radio is a key source of information. International broadcasters, including the BBC, are popular. However, rebroadcasts of foreign radios are banned.

State TV says it reaches tens of millions of viewers, while the main privately-owned networks are market leaders in some cities.

The print media have been in sharp decline in recent years but there are still around 100 publications. They include well-respected dailies, tabloids and publications which champion ethnic interests.

There were 154 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 73% of the populations (Internetworldstats.com). WhatsApp and Facebook are the most popular social media platforms.

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Television

Radio

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