Tinubu a true democrat, never ordered media clampdown — Information minister

• Despite legal protections, journalists still face arrests, surveillance and attacks under existing laws like the Cybercrime Act.
• Press freedom violations rose sharply, with 90 new cases reported between July and October 2024, according to CJID data.

The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said President Bola Tinubu never instructed him to harass journalists.

He made this known on Wednesday while receiving executives of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the guild’s general secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, and the deputy president, Sebastian Abu.

Idris said despite constant criticisms from the media, the president had never asked him to lie, arrest or intimidate any journalist.

“There are times when the media instigate tension, but Tinubu never urged me to alter the narrative, lie, arrest or harass the perpetrators,” he said.

“This is because the president is a true democrat who respects the rule of law. Also, the federal government believes that it cannot operate without the media, which is the fourth estate of the realm.”

Idris said he had been engaging stakeholders like the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the NGE and newspaper owners to build stronger relations.

He urged the media to offer constructive criticism, adding that the government was open to feedback on areas needing improvement.

“I have always said that when we do good, praise us, and when we are not doing well or going overboard, tell us constructively so that we can improve,” he said.

The minister said Tinubu’s support for free press led to UNESCO establishing a Media Literacy Centre at the National Open University in Abuja.

He said the country was at the final stage of securing UNESCO’s ratification to host the centre in Nigeria.

“This is a great achievement, because when established, the MIL Centre will bring stakeholders from across the globe to Nigeria,” he said.

“This will enhance media literacy in our country and checkmate the spread of fake news and issues of misinformation and disinformation in the country and the world at large.”