Maureen Okpe
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described Nigerian journalists as the nation’s primary defence against authoritarian threats, affirming that press freedom remains a non-negotiable pillar.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria in Abuja, with theme “Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria,” VP Shettima praised journalists for correcting misinformation and holding power to account during moments of national tension.
“We owe you a space of practice devoid of harassment, intimidation, or fear. That much is non-negotiable. 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,” he said.
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VP Shettima also lauded the media for resisting foreign disinformation campaigns. “You have stood firmly against disinformation and refused to surrender your pens to falsehoods or foreign puppeteers. This honourable stance sets you apart,” he stated. He emphasized that a nation with a silenced press becomes one where public officers lose their way and citizens lose their voice.
The Vice President, however, called on media practitioners to maintain high ethical standards, warning against those who fabricate stories or refuse to issue corrections when confronted with evidence. “You have stood firm in the coldest nights of national adversity, reflecting our nation not as we wish to be seen, but as we truly are,” he added.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to independent journalism, assuring that federal agencies operate under strict protocols during civil demonstrations while balancing national security with media freedom.
IPI Nigeria President, Misikilu Mojeed, decried the incessant attacks on Journalists, noting that Nigeria is no longer safe to practice Journalism.
He said, “Nigeria is classified as one of West Africa’s most dangerous countries for journalists. This is not a beautiful portrayal of our country, but the description is not business.
“The pattern is unmistakable. Journalists are monitored, attack and arbitrary, arrested completely lawfully, body activities such as female demolition, calming a protest documenting police misconduct and political reasons
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“Investigative journalists face targeted intimidation. Journalism is not a crime, and journalists are not criminals. The Constitution protects freedom of expression. But in practice, we continue to see intimidation, censorship and violence to our colleagues across the country.
“We must act as a unified community when a journalist is arrested in Kano, colleagues in Akwa Ibom must care when a newsroom is attacked in Niger, reporters in Lagos must speak out when a reporter disappears in Esther in Abuja, must raise their land so leader.
He described the conference as a platform for critical reflection on Nigerian journalism and urged collective action to safeguard journalists. “Solidarity is the journalists’ greatest line of defence,” he said.
IPI Global Executive Director, Scott Griffen, commended IPI Nigeria for promoting press freedom and independent journalism, calling for collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen media independence.
The conference coincides with IPI’s 75th anniversary, marking decades of defending journalists against censorship, political pressure, and repression globally. The event brought together government officials, media leaders, and civil society to advance free, responsible, and independent journalism in Nigeria.