SECTOR 1 the country has in no instance been found to be complying with the international regulation.” Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.6 (2008: N/A; 2011: 1.2) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. Newspapers obtain legal or moral personalities from State Governments. Because of the legislative independence that each Nigerian state enjoys, the rules for newspaper operations vary from state to state. However, almost every state requires some form of registration before newspapers can become operational. This registration is often done in the office of the State Director of Information. It remains debatable to what extent State officials intend to use this requirement to limit the freedom of newspapers to operate. Isn’t some form of formal recognition for newspapers to publish? Notwithstanding the varied views, panellists generally agreed that registration constitutes some sort of prior-authorisation. In practice, many newspapers ignore registration processes and go straight ahead to publish. “But when they run into problems, it is then they know there is a law,” said a panellist. “You write a very critical story and suddenly you are being asked if you are registered.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2015 17