Nigerian Minister Declares Absolute Media Freedom

In a significant development for press freedom in Nigeria, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has announced that the Federal Government has guaranteed absolute media freedom to practitioners.

The announcement was made during the 21st annual Daily Trust Dialogue held in Abuja on January 25, 2024.

The Minister emphasized that the Nigerian government is committed to upholding the freedom of expression and the press as enshrined in the country’s constitution.

He stated that the government recognizes the importance of a free and responsible media in fostering a healthy democracy.

However, the Minister also stressed that media practitioners must be truthful and responsible in their work. He urged the media to maintain high standards of journalism and to avoid sensationalism and the spread of false information.

The announcement was met with mixed reactions from the Nigerian public. While some welcomed the declaration of absolute media freedom, others expressed concerns about the potential for abuse of this freedom.

The Nigerian government has faced criticism in the past for its handling of press freedom.

In 2020, the country ranked 115th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, a report that measures the level of press freedom in countries around the world.

The Minister’s declaration of absolute media freedom comes at a time when press freedom is under threat in many parts of the world.

It remains to be seen how this development will impact the media landscape in Nigeria and whether it will lead to greater press freedom in the country.