MEDIA AND THE PROPAGATION OF HATE SPEECH IN NIGERIA: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL COHESION

Abstract

This study critically explores the role of Nigerian media in the proliferation of hate speech and its implications for national security and social cohesion. In an environment marked by heightened ethnic, religious, and political tensions, the unregulated spread of divisive rhetoric through media channels poses a significant threat to societal stability and nation-building efforts. Employing a mixed-methods research design, this study integrates quantitative, qualitative, and content analysis approaches to provide a comprehensive investigation. The content analysis focused on media outputs from prominent digital and traditional platforms, categorising hate speech themes, including ethnic, religious, and political divisions. Findings reveal a predominance of ethnic-based hate speech, accounting for 47% of the content sampled, followed by religious (33%) and political (30%) rhetoric. These findings highlight the structural and thematic drivers of hate speech proliferation in Nigerian media. The quantitative component employed descriptive and inferential statistical methods. A chi-square test (?² = 15.76, p < 0.05) revealed a significant association between media consumption patterns and perceptions of hate speech, with individuals consuming digital media reporting heightened perceptions of hate speech compared to those relying on traditional platforms. Pearson correlation analysis (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) identified a strong positive relationship between perceptions of media responsibility and concerns about national security, suggesting that heightened media culpability perceptions correlate with increased anxiety over the destabilising effects of hate speech. Qualitative insights, derived from interviews with media practitioners, security experts, and civil society leaders, provided further depth, identifying inadequate regulatory oversight and socio-political dynamics as key enablers of hate speech. The findings underscore the ethical imperatives of journalism and the need for robust institutional responses to mitigate the societal impact of divisive rhetoric. This study contributes to the discourse on the interplay between media practices, public perception, and national stability. It offers evidence-based strategies for promoting responsible media practices, enhancing social cohesion, and bolstering regulatory frameworks to safeguard Nigeria’s socio-political landscape. Keywords: Nigerian-media, hate-speech, national-security, social-cohesion, regulatory-frameworks