On World Press Freedom Day, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have urged President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and other authorities to urgently protect journalists, address insecurity, and combat the culture of impunity across Nigeria. This call was made during a joint conference and interactive session held in Lagos, themed “The Role of the Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria.”
Joint Statement and Concerns
The event, organized by SERAP and NGE at Ikeja, brought together newspaper editors, media professionals, civil society actors, and legal practitioners to discuss the worsening security situation and its implications for press freedom. In a joint statement read by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and NGE Assistant General Secretary Akin Adewo, the groups emphasized that protecting journalists and safeguarding information integrity are essential for peace, security, and democratic stability. They expressed grave concern over ongoing violence in parts of Northern Nigeria, including Benue, Borno, Kwara, Plateau, and Sokoto states, where killings, abductions, sexual violence, and forced displacement continue unabated.
According to SERAP and NGE, these violations breach Nigeria’s obligations under the Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They warned that persistent impunity erodes public trust and weakens democratic governance.
NHRC Calls for Zero Tolerance
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also called for zero tolerance against attacks on journalists and media organizations, warning that threats to press freedom endanger democratic governance and citizens’ rights. Speaking during the 2026 World Press Freedom Day commemoration, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu declared that a free and independent press is the lifeblood of every thriving democracy. He stressed a direct link between press freedom, accountability, transparency, and citizen participation in governance, noting that societies with free media are better positioned to deepen democratic values and protect human rights.
Ojukwu maintained that press freedom is a constitutional right under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as regional and international human rights instruments. He warned that every attack on journalists is an attack on democracy itself and undermines the public’s right to information. He expressed concern over persistent cases of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, assaults, and online harassment targeting journalists, and condemned killings of media practitioners in the line of duty, noting that such violations create fear and encourage self-censorship.
The NHRC has begun systematic tracking and documentation of press freedom violations nationwide, with findings to be made public to strengthen accountability and advocacy for journalists’ protection. Ojukwu urged governments, security agencies, and non-state actors to desist from obstructing lawful media activities and called for prompt, transparent investigations into attacks against journalists, insisting that perpetrators must face justice.
NBC Reaffirms Commitment to Responsible Broadcasting
Meanwhile, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) reaffirmed its commitment to credible, responsible, and independent broadcasting. NBC Director General Charles Ebuebu emphasized the central role of a free, responsible, and professional media in sustaining democratic governance and social stability. Under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace,” he argued that peace is sustained not by the absence of dissent but by credible information, informed dialogue, and institutional accountability. He added that the media, as the fourth estate, carries a dual obligation to inform with discipline.
Ebuebu noted that “public trust is not derived from volume or speed but from accuracy, verification and editorial responsibility. Where misinformation proliferates, or standards decline, the consequences extend beyond reputational damage to tangible risks for national cohesion.”
