JUST IN: Tinubu reaffirms commitment to press freedom, urges responsible journalism

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression, while urging journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy and responsibility in an era increasingly threatened by misinformation and disinformation.

Speaking at the maiden State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner in Abuja on Thursday, the President described a free press as one of the pillars of democracy but stressed that media freedom must be exercised responsibly.

Tinubu thanked journalists covering the Presidency for their dedication to keeping Nigerians informed and assured them that his administration would continue to provide the access, resources and constitutional freedoms required to perform their duties.

“I am an apostle of a free press. I have defended and advocated for the rights of the media throughout my public life and will continue to do so,” he said.

The President, however, warned against the growing spread of fake news, deepfakes, voice and facial cloning, misinformation and disinformation, urging media practitioners to verify information before publication.

“The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation, and credibility over clickbait,” he said, adding that freedom of expression should never be confused with the freedom to defame or deliberately mislead the public.

Tinubu acknowledged the often adversarial relationship between government and the media but described both institutions as indispensable partners in sustaining democracy.

“Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain. The media must question. That arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension—not because we dislike one another, but because democracy demands it,” he said.

Reflecting on his decades in public life, the President said he has become one of Nigeria’s most scrutinised politicians and recalled how speculation and allegations frequently dominated media coverage during election campaigns.

He said the experience reinforced his belief that democracy requires not only a free press but also a responsible one capable of separating facts from speculation.

Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the constitutional guarantees of press freedom under Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution and to the principles of transparency embodied in the Freedom of Information Act.

On governance, the President said his administration’s economic reforms are beginning to yield positive results, citing stronger public revenues, improved foreign reserves, renewed investor confidence, increased investments in the oil and gas sector and continued growth in the stock market.

He added that ongoing tax reforms, infrastructure investments and improvements in the business environment are laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.

Tinubu also highlighted progress in tackling insecurity, saying military operations have intensified across several theatres, intelligence gathering has improved and cooperation among security agencies has strengthened.

According to him, thousands of terrorists and other criminal elements have been neutralised, numerous hostages rescued and several communities reclaimed from armed groups.

The President called for stronger collaboration between government and the media, urging journalists to replace sensationalism with professionalism and continue contributing to national development through responsible reporting.

“Together, let us continue building a nation where truth matters, accountability thrives, democracy flourishes, and every Nigerian has reason to believe in the promise of our country,” he said.