A coalition of 85 journalists, civil society organizations, and media practitioners has issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the alarming surge in attacks on press freedom in Nigeria.
The call follows troubling reports from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), which revealed a staggering 90 incidents of press violations from July to October 2024 alone.
In a statement released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the coalition, represented by Sylvester Agih, Legal Consultant at Citizens’ Gavel, and Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of CJID’s Journalism Program, highlighted the critical situation. According to CJID’s press attack tracker, a total of 51 documented violations occurred between May 2023 and June 2024, indicating a troubling trend towards increased hostility against media professionals.
The coalition’s statement called on President Tinubu to take several key actions:
1. Legislation for Protection: Implement robust laws to safeguard press freedom, ensuring that journalists can perform their watchdog roles without fear of retaliation or harassment.
2. Investigation and Accountability: Conduct thorough investigations into recent incidents of harassment against journalists and hold perpetrators accountable to deter future violations.
3. Collaboration with Security Agencies: Engage with law enforcement bodies like the Nigerian Police Force and the State Security Service to reinforce their commitment to protecting journalists and upholding press freedom.
4. Dialogue with Media Stakeholders: Facilitate constructive dialogues with media professionals to address concerns surrounding press safety and work collaboratively towards a supportive environment for journalism.
5. Proper Complaint Handling: Direct that any complaints against journalists should first be handled by the Nigerian Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), ensuring due process is followed before any punitive actions are taken.
The coalition stressed the integral role of a free press in a thriving democracy, warning that the ongoing attacks largely attributed to state actorspose a significant threat to the principles of free speech and accountability.
“As we mark this important day, we are reminded of the vital contribution of journalists to our democracy,” the statement read.
“We urge the President to take decisive steps to protect press freedom, allowing journalists to report freely and without fear of reprisal.”
The coalition remains committed to advocating for journalists’ rights, emphasizing the need for collective action from government officials and civil society to safeguard press freedom in Nigeria.
As the country grapples with these pressing issues, the call for reform and protection for journalists has never been more urgent.
