No Compromise on Press Freedom, FG Assures Media

*Issues preliminary assessment certification for Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road

*NGE: Press freedom crucial to democracy, good governance 

*Atiku, Sanwo-Olu, Yahaya, SERAP hail journalists’ commitment to professionalism

Chuks Okocha, Wale Ajimotokan, Michael Olugbode in Abuja, Segun James in Lagos and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

The federal government has assured media practitioners on press freedom in Nigeria, saying that no single journalist has been hounded or incarcerated under the Tinubu-led administration for practicing responsible journalism.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja, at a press briefing organised by his ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, and the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day.

However, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday, reaffirmed that media freedom, freedom of expression and access to public information are crucial to democracy and must be at the heart of Nigerian government’s values and actions.
In a press statement issued yesterday, to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day signed by its President, Mr. Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the Guild also requested the National Assembly to initiate and adopt a law to protect journalists, who speak out on matters of public interest, especially against abusive and strategic lawsuits, which are regularly initiated to silence them.

This was just as former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, Atiku Abubukar; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwu-Olu and Gombe State Governor and Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, saluted Nigerian journalists and other media workers on the occasion of the World Freedom Day.

The NGE, the professional body of editors and media executives in Nigeria also said it recognises the crucial role played by journalists, media workers and free/independent media in protecting the country’s democracy and advised them not to give up, in spite of the prevailing economic challenges.
Speaking further, Idris also affirmed that not a single journalist has been hounded or incarcerated under the Tinubu administration for practicing responsible journalism.

“I have not seen somebody in the life of this administration, for example, who has been put in jail or who has gone into exile as a result of press freedom.
“We knew what had happened in this country in the past. Some decades ago, we knew that you had to leave this country to be able to report. I can tell you that the press in Nigeria is largely free but that freedom will further be consolidated if honesty and transparency are upheld in the manner that we report,” he said.
He posited that the President recognises the importance of responsible media coverage in enlightening, informing, and educating Nigerians and the world, adding that through credible and timely information, everyone can be well-informed, and the media can serve as a valuable tool for fostering transparency and accountability.

The minister added that the administration has provided the most unfettered access to journalists plus an enabling environment that has continued to encourage the Nigerian media to grow in leaps and bounds.
He reminded the media that spreading falsehood and misinformation is irresponsible journalism and cannot be equated with press freedom.
Also the Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed that the federal government has issued a preliminary assessment certification for the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road.
He said the Ministry of Environment carried out the assessment after the Ministry of Works applied since December last year for Environmental Impact and social assessment of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.
He added the Ministry of Environment had also issued a preliminary impact assessment certification for site clearance and scoping for compensation on the same road project.
The event was attended by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe; Head UNESCO Office Abuja, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo and heads of parastatals under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation as well as the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management.

Reading the Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay’s message on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Head, UNESCO Office Abuja, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo said: “The planet is on the brink of a climatic precipice: 2023 was the hottest year on record, with an average global surface temperature 1.45°C higher than in the pre-industrial era. Other alarming records were also broken for ocean surface temperatures, sea level rise and glacier retreat.

“As humanity faces up to this existential peril, we must remember, on this World Day, that the climate challenge is also a journalistic and informational challenge. No effective climate action is possible without access to free and reliable scientific information.”

He noted: “That is why this year’s theme highlights the essential link between protecting freedom of expression – a global public good – and preserving our planet.

“But this World Day is also a call to action to protect journalism and free, pluralistic information.

“A call to make the major social networks more accountable, so that they can step up their moderation and regulation measures to counter disinformation and conspiracy around climate change, in line with the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms published by UNESCO in November 2023.”

He added that: “A call to equip all citizens with the critical thinking skills needed to confront disinformation.

“A call, also, to protect journalists and media professionals, artists and scientists, who are all too often the victims of harassment, violence and censorship. A UNESCO study published this month shows that 70 per cent of environmental reporters have been the victims of attacks, threats or pressure because of their work, and 44 environmental journalists have been killed in the last 15 years.

“Access to reliable information is all the more vital in this “super-election year”, when some 2.6 billion citizens are called to the polls. How can voters remain masters of their own destiny if their choices are distorted by false information and polarized by hate speech?”

On its part, the NGE has reaffirmed that media freedom, freedom of expression and access to public information are crucial to democracy and must be at the heart of the Nigerian government’s values and actions.

 “In line with the theme of this year’s celebration, we believe that journalism and freedom of expression are crucial in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

“Journalism and freedom of expression help in raising public awareness about environmental issues; holding power accountable; amplifying marginalised voices; promoting transparency and accountability; fostering public debate/engagement, and providing a platform for solutions,’’ the editors added.

More importantly, the NGE added that this year’s World Press Freedom Day provides an opportunity for every stakeholder in the media community to continue to drum it to the hearing of both state and non-state actors – about the importance of press freedom and the challenges being faced by journalists, including censorship, harassment, imprisonment and violence. And the urgent need by the government to take deliberate and sustained action to promote press freedom and good journalism in the country.

According to the editors, “The federal government will fundamentally be promoting the enabling environment for media to operate responsibly if it adopts a law to protect persons who speak out on matters of public interest against abusive lawsuits meant to silence them.

“The federal government should take a clue from the European Union and other democracies around the world, who have adopted similar laws to protect journalists and media houses against Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP suit).

“More so, there are still many obnoxious and anti-media laws in our statutory books that are targeted at journalists and media houses. The National Assembly (NASS) must take immediate step to repeal them.’’

Meanwhile, Atiku, in a statement he signed stated: “I join the rest of the world to celebrate the work of all traditional and social media citizen journalists as well as other media professionals who work on behalf of Nigerian citizens to expose truths, even in the face of government adversity.

“The fourth estate of the realm as the watchdog of society in Nigeria has always been at the forefront of holding the government accountable, all through the days of the military regimes and even now.

“I painfully acknowledge the challenges and threats faced by our pen-fighters and use this opportunity to reaffirm my eternal commitment to press freedom and the safety of all journalists across all spheres and especially the internet which is fast becoming a major medium of journalistic operations.

“To all journalists who have paid the ultimate price in the battle to enthrone and sustain democracy and for a better society, be assured that your sacrifices will not be in vain.

“To all journalists and on behalf of all my associates and supporters, I say thank you for your sacrifices, thank you for your service, and I will always stand in solidarity with you.”, Atiku stated

On his part, Sanwo-Olu has commended journalists for their commitment to the tenets of the profession.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement yesterday, noted that, “The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will continue to encourage press freedom and provide an enabling environment for good journalism to flourish.”

He called on journalists to rededicate themselves to courageous and objective journalism, even as he quoted the governor as saying that the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis’, lends credence to the need for professionals to pay attention to the unconventional events that have confronted the environment, particularly climate change, across nations.

He urged policymakers, journalists, media personnel, lawmakers, social media users and other stakeholders to embrace dialogue on ways of ensuring that journalism remains a beacon of hope.

Similarly, Gvernor Yahaya urged journalists to continue to uphold their role as watchdogs of the society and guardians of public interests while embracing the responsibilities that come with their profession.

In a goodwill message on the occasion of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the governor commended media practitioners in Gombe State for their dedication to promoting democratic ideals, emphasising the crucial role of the press in enlightening the public about government policies and global developments.

While recognising the impact of the digital era on press freedom and journalists’ safety, the governor emphasised the need for responsible journalism in the face of evolving challenges.

The World Press Freedom Day, he said, serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind.

He noted the impact of the digital era on the freedom of the press, the security of journalists, and access to information, advising them to always guard against fake news and misinformation as well as ensure accurate and balanced reportage of events and activities.

The NSGF Chairman assured to continue to work with the media as partners and critical allies in his determination to entrench transparency, accountability and openness in governance in Gombe State.

Also, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) have urged Nigerian authorities at all levels of government to “stop using repressive and anti-media laws such as the Cybercrimes Act and some codes of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to target, intimidate and harass journalists, critics and media houses.”

The statement followed the interactive session on ‘the state of press freedom in Nigeria’ held yesterday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja. The event was jointly organised by SERAP and NGE to mark the World Press Freedom Day.

In a joint statement, SERAP and NGE said that, “the government of President Bola Tinubu, the country’s 36 governors and FCT minister must now genuinely uphold press freedom, ensure access to information to all Nigerians, obey court judgements, and respect the rule of law.”

The groups expressed “serious concerns about the escalating crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by authorities at all levels of government.”

The groups “note that the suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms ranging from extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.”

The statement read in part: “We would continue to speak truth to power and to hold authorities to account for their constitutional and international obligations including on freedom of expression and media freedom.

“Nigeria as a country has a long and unpleasant history of press gagging and clampdown on media freedom, which is evidence of extensive state censorship of media and in some cases, the utter control of state-owned media houses.

“This position has not changed considerably despite almost 25 years of unbroken democratic rule in the Fourth Republic.”