World Press Day: NGIJ Calls on Government to Strengthen Press Freedom in Nigeria
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ), has called on the Federal as well as other tiers of governments in Nigeria to ensure that the media is independent and journalists are truly free to practice without any fear of intimidation or persecution.
The NGIJ made this call in a statement signed by Mr Israel O. Bolaji, Vice President (Information & Strategy), on Sunday in Lagos as the world commemorates the global Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020
The guild said journalists are a critical partner in nation-building
“In Nigeria, between January 2019 and November 2019, the Media recorded at least 71 attacks including arrests, detention, intimidation and killings, according to The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, International Press Centre (IPC), HEDA Resource Centre, Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ and SERAP.
“The popular cases of Agba Jalingo, Abiri Jones, Peter Okutu, Chijioke Agwu and others also readily come to mind. Detaining journalists for doing their job runs contrary to the obligation to ensure an enabling environment for the media. The criminalization
The statement noted that journalists go through difficult hurdles to get the nation informed. “For example, under the current circumstance of the global Covid-19 pandemic, journalists risk their lives as front liners to source accurate information which are shared with people to help make well-informed health decisions that can make the difference between life and death.
“As the pandemic spreads, attacking over 3 million people globally and over two thousand in Nigeria, the press has contributed significantly by sharing verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis. This helps in countering the scourge of misinformation,
Urging journalists not to relent, NGIJ said the media must remain professional and known for providing facts and insightful analysis; for holding leaders – in every sector – accountable; and for speaking truth to power.
“We call on governments to protect journalists and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for the future of peace, justice and human rights for all”, NGIJ concluded.