There’s Unfettered Freedom Under My Govt, Says Buhari
THE Nigerian National Committee of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) has tasked the incoming government to commit to creating a better operating environment for journalists and media organisations.
In its message on Wednesday, may 3, 2023 to commemorate this year’s World Freedom day, IPI noted that Nigerian journalists were in perpetual danger, as cases of media and journalists’ harassment, including arrests, physical attacks, denial of access, threats, equipment damage, equipment seizure, lawsuits and high-handedness and arbitrariness by some agencies of government, have become rampant in recent years.
According to IPI: “We are urging the incoming government to embrace a new attitude by deliberately improving the operational environment of journalists and the media.
“While state actors, especially state governors, must end intimidation and harassment of journalists, Nigerian politicians and political parties should also desist from the use of online trolls to attack journalists and media organisations.”
It said there were still a number of oppressive and media-unfriendly laws, such as those on criminal defamation and cybercrime, that needed to be amended and advised government to carry out widespread sensitisation of security operatives to make them understand that journalists and the media are key elements of democracy.
“IPI Nigeria demands that the incoming government commits to the total implementation of the FOI Act, because the free flow of information is essential to the survival and growth of democracy.
“Misinformation and disinformation thrive more robustly when authorities withhold information that ordinarily should be made available to the public.”
On its part Similarly, the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) decried the continued assault on press freedom in Nigeria, despite the crucial role the media in propagating human rights.
The NAS Capoon, Abiola Owoaje, expressed sadness that “with all the technological advances that have been recorded with regard to information dissemination and advocacy for human rights, the world is still grappling with a worrisome scale of international disregard for press freedom, freedom of expression and safety of journalists”.
But President Muhammadu Buhari insisted that journalists and media organisations had “unfettered freedom” under his administration.
“We have kept the faith. We have ensured that Nigerian journalists have had unfettered freedom to practice their art, and on this occasion of World Press Freedom Day, we recommit to that resolution, even as we wind down in office,” the Presidency said in a statement.
In his speech to mark the 30th commemoration of Press Freedom, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, noted that the landmark celebration was a tribute to media professionals who risk their lives to keep society informed and educated.
“Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth to power. But in every corner of the world, freedom of the press is under attack,” Guterres lamented.
