Media, Hate Speech and Peace Building in Nigeria

Abstract

The importance of mass media in the development process of any country cannot be over-emphasized. Aside their traditional roles which are to inform, educate and entertain, the media, which include print, broadcast and new media, also serve as catalysts for development through creation of veritable avenues for aggregation and dissemination of opinions, devoid of undue censorship. The media also facilitate peace building, particularly in plural societies and serve as veritable instruments for national integration. Using a blend of secondary and primary data, this paper, which covers the Fourth Republic (1999 till date), assessed the nexus among the media, hate speech and peace building in Nigeria, interrogating the roles of the media vis-a-vis the freedom of expression as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and how effectively it has performed its gate-keeping roles to guard against hate speeches capable of thwarting peace building, particularly among the various ethnic, religious and social groups in Nigeria. The paper infered that although hate speech is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria, concerted efforts must be made to sensitize citizens on the need to end its menace to prevent incitement and plunging the country into needless crises capable of halting peace building and threatening its continued corporate existence.