Media Concentration and Its Effects on Politics in Nigeria

Abstract

Regional concentration of news production in ethnically polarised societies can be problematic to democracy and development. A case in point is Rwanda where sections of the news media played an instrumental role in laying the groundwork for and participating in the extermination campaign that led to genocide in 1994. This paper examines the political effect of regional concentration of newspaper production in Nigeria's multi-ethnic and multicultural society to investigate if regional media concentration has weakened, detracted or even strengthened the role newspapers play in the democratic process. Using focus group discussions and content analysis, the study found that the divergent political, economic and historical roots of the press in both news publishing hubs in Nigeria, embedded in the nation’s peculiar cultural and political history have manifested in intense rivalry and power struggle between and among newspapers in the hubs. The study recommends the set-up of an independent media watchdog, with powers to monitor and regulate inaccuracies and bias in news reporting.