By Joseph Edegbo –
Nigerian Government has rejected the 2021 annual World Press
Freedom Index that characterized the country as One not conducive to the practice of journalism, saying Nigerian press remains among the
most vibrant and freest in the world.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
announced the rejection Tuesday in Abuja when he received the
executive members of the Nigerian chapter of the International Press
Institute (IPI) on a courtesy visit to his office.
The President of IPI Nigeria, Mr. Muskilu Mojeed, who led the
executive members on the visit, had cited the World Press Freedom
Index as an example of the country’s low rating in the area of press
freedom.
“I disagree with your assessment of press freedom under this
government. Honestly, at times when I read what the media write here
about Nigeria, I begin to wonder whether I live in the same country
that they are writing about.
“I disagree vehemently with the assessment because it is unfounded and has no scientific basis. I have been the Minister (of Information and
Culture) since 2015 so I know the state of press freedom in Nigeria,”
the Minister said.
He clarified that some people have misconstrued government’s efforts
to ensure a responsible use of social media as an attempt to tamper
with press freedom or threaten independent journalism, emphasizing
that the government does not harbor such intentions.
Alhaji Mohammed reiterated that the present government is not a threat
to the media, and that it is not about to stifle press freedom or deny
anyone his or her constitutionally-guaranteed rights.
“After all, this must be one of the very few countries in the world
where a section of the media can refuse to recognize popular
sovereignty, or how does one describe a situation in which a President
who was duly elected by millions of Nigeria is willfully stripped of
that title, President, and then cheekily cloaked in the garb of a
dictator by playing up his military title? Despite that abuse of press
freedom, those doing that have continued to practice their profession
without hindrance.
“Ours must also be one of the few countries in the world where a
reputable medium will report fake news and, when called out, will not
retract or apologize,” he said.
The Minister enjoined the media to always stick to their constitutional watchdog role, and not to constitute themselves into a political opposition.
He also charged IPI Nigeria, to take seriously the issues of ethics,
credibility and fake news, among others, in relation to the practice
of journalism in the country.
”For example, on the issue of ethics, is it part of the ethics of
journalism for a media organization to function like an opposition
party, seeing nothing good in the government of the day and only
reporting bad news?” Alhaji Mohammed queried.
He called for a sustained engagement between the government and the
IPI in order to share views on how to enhance the practice of
journalism in the country.
In his remarks, the President of IPI Nigeria, Mr. Mojeed, said the
visit was part of a series of engagements with governmental and
non-governmental organizations to enhance independent journalism and
operating environment for journalists and media organizations in
Nigeria.