Vice President Kashim Shettima has described Nigerian journalists as the nation’s primary defence against authoritarian rule.
He assured that press freedom remains a non-negotiable pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, he affirmed the Federal Government’s (FG) unwavering commitment to protecting media practitioners from harassment and intimidation.
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The conference was themed: “Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria.”
Shettima praised the media community for its historical resilience against authoritarian tendencies, stating that a “successful dictator is impossible in Nigeria” due to the press’s vigilance.
He specifically guaranteed an environment conducive to ethical practice.
“We owe you a space of practice devoid of harassment, intimidation, or fear. That much is non-negotiable. And 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 also commended journalists for playing a stabilising role during national tension by correcting misinformation and for their refusal to surrender to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and disinformation campaigns.
While assuring government protection, Shettima also challenged media practitioners to uphold ethical standards, urging them to warn against colleagues who fabricate stories and refuse retractions.
He called for a professional culture that prioritises “verification above virality, and nationhood above nihilism.”
He noted that a nation with a silenced press is one where public officers lose their way and citizens lose their voice.
Earlier, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to enhancing press freedom, noting that media-government relations are being redefined.
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He assured that the government operates on the fundamental principle of an independent press, acknowledging that a free press is the amplifier of an engaged citizenry.
IPI Nigeria President, Misikilu Mojeed, called for collective action by journalists and urged the FG to curb the incessant harassment of journalists by state governments, security agencies, and other actors, stressing that “solidarity is the journalists’ greatest line of defence.”
