By Ayo Ayodele
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom, declaring that democracy cannot thrive without an independent media while urging journalists to uphold professionalism, accuracy and responsibility in the discharge of their duties.
Speaking at the maiden State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner in Abuja on Friday, Tinubu described himself as “an apostle of a free press” and pledged to continue defending the rights of journalists throughout his public life.
The President thanked members of the State House Press Corps for their dedication to keeping Nigerians informed about the activities of his administration and assured them that the government would continue to provide the access, resources and freedom required for them to perform their constitutional responsibilities.
“Democracy is stymied without a free press. The fourth estate of the realm must be a free estate, and not a fief,” Tinubu said, stressing that freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of association remain essential pillars of democracy.
However, he cautioned that media freedom must be exercised with responsibility, noting that journalists have a duty to report accurately and avoid publishing content capable of endangering national security or causing unnecessary tension.
The President expressed concern over the growing spread of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, voice and facial cloning, and deepfakes, describing them as some of the major challenges of the digital age.
He urged media professionals not to become “willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information,” adding that professional journalism must remain the standard for distinguishing facts from rumours and evidence from speculation.
Tinubu said government and the media may often appear to be adversaries in a democratic setting, but insisted they remain partners in nation-building.
“Government exists to serve the people through leadership, policy and public service. The media exists to serve society by watching those entrusted with power, asking difficult questions and holding government accountable,” he said.
Reflecting on his decades in public life, the President said he had become one of Nigeria’s most scrutinised politicians and noted that media reports during election campaigns often transformed speculation into accepted facts before evidence emerged.
Despite this, he said the democratic process ultimately allowed Nigerians to evaluate competing claims and make informed choices at the polls.
Tinubu also stressed that freedom of expression should not be mistaken for the freedom to defame or deliberately mislead the public, adding that existing laws, including the Cybercrimes Act, are intended to protect citizens from malicious falsehoods and other digital abuses rather than undermine press freedom.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of expression and the media’s role in holding government accountable, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, which promotes transparency and public access to information.
The President said his administration’s economic reforms were beginning to yield positive results, citing improvements in public revenue, foreign reserves, investor confidence, the oil and gas sector and the stock market.
He also highlighted gains in the fight against insecurity, saying military operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger inter-agency collaboration had led to the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminal elements, the rescue of hostages and the recovery of communities previously under threat.
Calling for stronger collaboration between government and the media, Tinubu urged journalists to replace sensationalism with professionalism and prioritise truth, fairness and accountability in the national interest.
He expressed hope that the State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner would become an enduring tradition celebrating the relationship between government and the media and their shared responsibility in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.