Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday described Nigerian journalists as the country’s foremost defence against authoritarianism, declaring that press freedom remains a non-negotiable principle of the Bola Tinubu administration.
Speaking at the 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute Nigeria in Abuja, Shettima said journalists have helped stabilise the nation during tense periods by correcting misinformation and holding leaders accountable. He assured that the federal government is committed to protecting the media from harassment or intimidation.
“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,” he said.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President praised the endurance of the Nigerian media in resisting authoritarian impulses over the years. He argued that dictatorship cannot take root in Nigeria because the press has consistently refused to be silenced.
“It is impossible, uttrly impossible, to have a successful dictator in Nigeria. Never in our history has any person or government succeeded in suppressing the media permanently,” he said.
Shettima also commended journalists for pushing back against foreign information manipulation and disinformation campaigns, saying their refusal to surrender to propaganda has helped safeguard national stability.
“You have stood firmly against disinformation and refused to surrender your pens to falsehoods or foreign puppeteers. This honourable stance sets you apart,” he said.
He urged media professionals to maintain ethical standards and prioritise verification over sensationalism, warning against those who publish falsehoods and decline to correct them.
You have stood firm in the coldest nights of national adversity, and you have outlived those who attempted to place their boots upon your freedom. You have been the life-size mirror of our nation, reflecting us not as we wish to be seen, but as we truly are,” he said. He cautioned that a nation with a gagged press loses both direction and voice.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the administration’s stance on strengthening press freedom and promoting independent journalism. He said media-government relations have been redefined under President Tinubu, whom he described as one of the most media-friendly leaders in the country’s history.
Idris maintained that government agencies operate under strict protocols during civil demonstrations and said the administration aims to balance national security with media freedom while addressing misinformation.
He added that the government’s approach seeks not control but constructive dialogue and ethical reporting rooted in Nigeria’s cultural context.
IPI Nigeria President, Misikilu Mojeed said the conference is a space for reflection on the state of journalism, noting that participants will adopt a call to action focused on media reform and journalist safety. He urged collective action to tackle the challenges facing the profession, saying “solidarity is the journalists’ greatest line of defence.”
Mojeed also called on the federal government to prevail on state authorities and security agencies to end the harassment of journalists and strengthen their protection nationwide.
Scott Griffen, Executive Director of IPI Global, commended IPI Nigeria for its role in defending press freedom and called for deeper collaboration among stakeholders to advance independent journalism despite growing pressures.