Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed that press freedom remains a fundamental and non-negotiable priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Shettima made the declaration on Tuesday at the 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria in Abuja, themed “Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria.”
Describing journalists as Nigeria’s foremost defence against authoritarianism, the Vice-President said the media has consistently stabilised the nation in times of tension by correcting misinformation and holding leaders accountable.
He gave assurances that the Federal Government would continue to safeguard journalists from intimidation and harassment.
“We owe you a space of practice devoid of harassment, intimidation, or fear. That much is non-negotiable,” he said. “As a government, we must continue to create an environment where truth can thrive without obstruction and where the work you do is protected rather than policed.”
Shettima hailed the resilience of Nigeria’s media, insisting that a dictatorship cannot thrive in the country because of the vigilance of journalists.
“It is impossible, utterly impossible, to have a successful dictator in Nigeria,” he said. “Never in our history has any person or government succeeded in suppressing the media permanently.”
He also praised journalists for resisting foreign disinformation campaigns and maintaining integrity in the face of pressure.
“You have stood firmly against disinformation and refused to surrender your pens to falsehoods or foreign puppeteers,” he said. “I stand before you today… as a friend… assuring you that this administration respects, and will continue to protect, your right to freedom of expression.”
Shettima, however, urged practitioners to uphold ethical standards, warning against fabricated stories and refusal to issue corrections. He called for a media culture that prioritises “verification above virality, and nationhood above nihilism.”
He cautioned that any nation that silences its press risks losing both accountable governance and the voice of its citizens.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris also restated the government’s commitment to protecting press freedom and strengthening independent journalism. He described Tinubu and Shettima as “some of the most media-friendly leaders Nigeria has produced.”
Idris noted that media-government relations were being redefined under the current administration, adding that the government was committed to balancing national security with media freedom, particularly in combating misinformation.
He stressed that the administration’s approach is not aimed at control but at fostering dialogue and ethical reporting rooted in Nigeria’s cultural realities.
IPI Nigeria President Misikilu Mojeed said the conference was designed to reflect on the state of journalism and enhance the safety and practice of the profession. He urged collective action among journalists and called on the Federal Government to curb harassment by state actors and strengthen safety mechanisms nationwide.
Scott Griffen, Executive Director of IPI Global, commended IPI Nigeria for its consistent defence of press freedom and called for deeper collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen independent journalism in the country.
NAN
