The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to press freedom is a key part of his vision for a prosperous and democratic Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, November 12, at the All Nigeria Editors Conference, Idris emphasized that no media organisation has been gagged, harassed, or shut down under the current administration.
“Central to this vision of a prosperous Nigeria is an environment where free speech and a dynamic media can thrive. I stand before you today to affirm that under President Tinubu’s leadership, we have nurtured an unprecedentedly egalitarian media ecosystem,” he said.
“With over 1,000 licensed radio and television stations operating across the nation, it is significant to note that not a single one has been threatened, gagged, or shut down by the government for expressing dissent. This is not a coincidence but a conscious commitment to the constitutional principles of press freedom,” Idris added.
The minister noted that Tinubu’s respect for press freedom has earned international recognition, leading to Nigeria being granted hosting rights for the International Media and Information Literacy Institute.
He explained that the event would connect Nigeria with media-literate professionals across the world, and that his ministry was ready to use the platform to highlight Nigeria’s progress.
“We are rapidly transforming our information architecture to complement this, ensuring that we not only consume information but also lead in shaping a more literate, discerning, and ethically sound global media landscape,” he said.
Addressing editors at the event, Idris described them as “essential partners in national renewal,” urging them to engage the government constructively and report with fairness and responsibility.
“The government of President Tinubu has demonstrated its faith in you through its actions, not just its words. We invite you to engage, to critique constructively, and to report with the responsibility that this moment in our history demands. Let us work together to tell the Nigerian story with balance, with truth, and with an unyielding belief in the promise of our great nation,” he said.
Idris concluded by reiterating that President Tinubu views a vibrant and independent media not as an adversary, but as “the bedrock upon which a true and lasting democracy is built.”
