Nigeria: Rights Bodies, Editors Demand Protection for Journalists on World Press Freedom Day

On World Press Freedom Day, Nigeria's media landscape is once again under scrutiny, with calls for greater protection of journalists echoing from various quarters. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a firm stance, demanding zero tolerance for attacks on media practitioners. This is not merely an abstract principle; it is a direct response to the persistent intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and even killings that plague the profession in Nigeria.

“

Journalists are guardians of truth, pillars of democracy

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have joined forces, directing their appeals to the highest levels of government, including President Bola Tinubu. Their joint statement highlights the urgent need to safeguard press freedom and combat the escalating insecurity and human rights abuses, particularly in the northern regions. This underscores a critical concern: the intertwined nature of press freedom, national security, and democratic health.

“

a free and independent media remains the “lifeblood” of any democratic society, stressing that press freedom is not a privilege but a fundamental right guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State offered a different, yet equally important, perspective, celebrating journalists as "guardians of truth" and "pillars of democracy." His tribute, while laudatory, serves as a reminder of the vital role the press plays in shaping public discourse and holding power to account. From a Nigerian perspective, the work of journalists is often a dangerous endeavor, undertaken with immense courage in the face of significant risks. Western media often reports on press freedom issues as abstract violations of rights, but here in Nigeria, it is a daily struggle for survival and for the very soul of our democracy.

“

Every threat to a journalist constitutes a direct attack on democracy and the public’s right to know.