AS NIGERIA joins the rest of the globe to mark World Press Freedom Day, we sampled insights from selected editors on the challenges and opportunities facing the media industry in the country.
From navigating government restrictions and censorship to embracing digital innovation, our editors share their thoughts on the current state of press freedom, the future of journalism, and the importance of a free press in holding power accountable.
Chikezie Omeje, Africa Editor, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
What is the biggest challenge facing press freedom in Nigeria today?
Chikezie Omeje: The biggest obstacle to press freedom in Nigeria is poor funding. There is no freedom when you’re hungry. Much of the mainstream media has been taken over by vested interests, and journalists are poorly paid. In this kind of environment, public interest journalism suffers because critical reporting is scarce. That’s why many stories are event-based. News becomes what powerful interests want published. Press freedom requires independent funding and adequate remuneration for journalists.
How do government policies or security agencies affect journalists’ ability to report freely?
Chikezie Omeje: We live in a country where powerful individuals use state instruments to intimidate journalists. Many Nigerian journalists have been arrested by the police on ridiculous charges like cybercrime. What does journalism have to do with cybercrime? They also bring up frivolous criminal charges related to defamation. It makes no sense to criminally charge a journalist for defamation in a democracy. It’s a shame that the Nigerian police are used to hound journalists. If you’ve an issue with a piece of journalism, sue for defamation, and stop using police to intimidate or silence journalists.
How do you handle cases of harassment or intimidation faced by your journalists/newsroom?
Chikezie Omeje: The truth remains the best defence against frivolous lawsuits or arrest by the police. Journalists should always strive to be accurate and fair. The truth will set you free, no matter how hard they try to silence or intimidate you. Newsrooms should also consider insuring themselves against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
What changes are needed legally or institutionally to better protect press freedom in Nigeria?
Chikezie Omeje: Independent and adequate funding is essential to protect press freedom. Without adequate remuneration, newsrooms cannot attract or retain top talent. We must find reliable and sustainable ways to fund independent journalism. Money won’t solve all the problems, but it will go a long way toward safeguarding the integrity of the profession. The era of funding journalism through advertising revenue has passed, and its decline calls for that vacuum to be filled by independent sources of funding.
Aminu Naganye, Editor, WikkiTimes
What is the biggest challenge facing press freedom in Nigeria today?
Aminu Naganye: The biggest challenge to press freedom in Nigeria today is the government and powerful individuals who abhor accountability and promote impunity. There have been instances where they attempt to influence or control the judiciary, which ought to be an independent arm of government. Additionally, the Cybercrime Act has proven effective in stifling press freedom, as it has been repeatedly used to harass, intimidate, or even jail journalists.
How do government policies or security agencies affect journalists’ ability to report freely?
Aminu Naganye: Government policies aimed at regulating new media, along with the use of agencies such as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to control conventional media especially broadcast media pose significant challenges for journalists. Security agencies are continually used by government officials or powerful individuals to gag the press. This has led to harassment and intimidation of journalists through charges such as defamation and cyberbullying. It’s quite a daring effort for journalists to freely report about policies of government or its allies including influential figures.
How do you handle cases of harassment or intimidation faced by your journalists/newsroom?
Aminu Naganye: We believe in the power of collaboration with our colleagues, friends, and partners to expose those behind the harassment and intimidation. We go further to publicly shame them. Internally, we deploy mechanisms to ensure the safety of our staff. For this reason, we now largely operate remotely after threats against us became overwhelming. We remain in close contact with our legal team and actively share experiences with other newsrooms facing similar situations. Most importantly, we ensure that the story which triggered the harassment is amplified even further.
What changes are needed legally or institutionally to better protect press freedom in Nigeria?
Aminu Naganye: We need reforms, starting with a complete rejection of proposed regulations targeting new media. The Cybercrime Act should also be repealed. However, this doesn’t mean journalists should not be held accountable when they go wrong. It simply means that the government and powerful individuals should not be allowed to exploit legal provisions to evade scrutiny. Our judicial system must also improve, particularly at the sub-national level, where state governors are notorious for using the courts to silence the media and critical voices.
Joseph Adeiye, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), News and Features Editor
What is the biggest challenge facing press freedom in Nigeria today?
Joseph Adeiye: The biggest contemporary challenge for press freedom in Nigeria is an anti-journalist state establishment. Nothing stifles a free press in Nigeria with as much force and dedication as the Nigerian government.
Today, more journalists working in Nigeria are getting concerned about arbitrary arrests because of recent persecutions of their colleagues. Remember where FIJ’s Daniel Ojukwu was on Press Freedom Day 2024. Journalists do their jobs, report what they find, but federal and state governments use their vast resources to respond with threats or illegal reactions.
How do government policies or security agencies affect journalists’ ability to report freely?
Joseph Adeiye: From experience, we have noticed that the government has weaponised vaguely and poorly drafted laws against journalists. The infamous misuse of the Cybercrime Act to target journalists in Nigeria is an example of this. Revealing stories and accountability reports are often labelled defamatory. Reporters are taken in for weeks or months of unnecessary questioning all in a bid to intimidate them.
However, there are other ways the government and its security agencies try to limit journalists’ ability to report important stories. One of such methods is an unspoken information embargo. Journalists are still so blatantly denied access to information by the government today that they find it difficult to process public data for timely news reports. Agencies, especially in finance departments and the armed forces, deliberately refuse to answer questions or respond to FOI requests in order to restrict journalists’ access to information that matters. It is a common practice across the tiers and arms of government even though it is against the law.
How do you handle cases of harassment or intimidation faced by your journalists/newsroom?
Joseph Adeiye: Intimidation and harassment come in varying forms. We treat each case individually, and the circumstances dictate how our newsroom responds.
Most times, our reliable legal counsel helps to nullify intimidation disguised as lawsuits.
We have received more direct threats for our journalism though; death threats are not alien to FIJ reporters. At a point, we know when to get the authorities involved and put working systems in place to protect the newsroom.
What changes are needed legally or institutionally to better protect press freedom in Nigeria?
Joseph Adeiye: Institutionally, I think the Nigerian press has to continue playing its role bravely and more persistently. The attacked institution of the press cannot afford to give up, not in the face of an anti-journalist regime. Our persistence is a necessary pushback against the intimidation of the press.
For the state, it must rid itself of habitual hostilities towards journalists. The government must revisit some of its laws like the cybercrimes and terrorism acts. We need to revisit what it means to commit a felony or treason. These laws should be revised with properly defined scopes.
There are also a few laws protecting the press from attacks and intimidation. Such laws have to be consolidated on.
In the end, Nigeria could have these laws and choose to disregard them just as most government agencies illegally ignore the FOI Act’s provisions today. The enforcement of these laws is key to a truly free press and a healthy democracy.
Seun Durojaiye Managing Editor, Social Voices
What is the biggest challenge facing press freedom in Nigeria today?
Seun Durojaiye: The biggest challenge to press freedom today I believe is the rise of surveillance capitalism. Research points to how the government is increasingly using AI and digital technologies to monitor journalists and control information. This creates a culture of fear and self-censorship, making it harder for reporters to cover vital issues like corruption and human rights abuses.
How do government policies or security agencies affect journalists’ ability to report freely?
Seun Durojaiye: Government policies often empower security agencies to use AI for surveillance, which directly impacts journalists. They can track online activities and intimidate reporters, making it risky to cover sensitive topics. The lack of clear legal protections around these technologies adds to the pressure journalists face.
How do you handle cases of harassment or intimidation faced by your journalists/newsroom?
Seun Durojaiye: We take harassment seriously. We focus on solutions journalism, which highlights effective responses to problems, helping our journalists feel empowered. We provide digital security training to protect their communications and offer legal support for anyone facing intimidation. Building a supportive community is key, so our journalists can share experiences and strategies.
What changes are needed legally or institutionally to better protect press freedom in Nigeria?
Seun Durojaiye: We need stricter regulations on surveillance technologies to ensure transparency and accountability. Establishing strong legal protections for digital rights is crucial to safeguard journalists from unwarranted surveillance. Promoting solutions journalism can also help shift the narrative, and public engagement campaigns can raise awareness about the importance of press freedom in the digital age.
Kolapo Olapoju, Editor, TheCable
What is the biggest challenge facing press freedom in Nigeria today?
Kolapo Olapoju: The biggest challenge is the increasing weaponisation of state power to silence critical voices. We have seen arbitrary arrests, digital surveillance and the misuse of laws like the Cybercrime Act. The state often treats journalism as a threat rather than a pillar of democracy. What’s even more dangerous is the culture of impunity; attacks happen, and no one is held accountable.
How do government policies or security agencies affect journalists’ ability to report freely?
Kolapo Olapoju: They create a climate of fear. Security agencies have been known to harass and detain journalists often with zero legal backing. Government policies are vague enough to be used as tools of suppression, especially when stories expose corruption or human rights violations. It forces journalists to self-censor, which is a quiet but deadly erosion of press freedom.
How do you handle cases of harassment or intimidation faced by your journalists/newsroom?
Kolapo Olapoju: We document everything. Intimidation isn’t new to us, so we’ve learned to respond quickly by mobilising legal support and where necessary, seek solidarity from press freedom groups. We don’t cower in fear, because fear emboldens the oppressor. Safety protocols are also in place, and we also provide emotional support to our journalists when needed.
What changes are needed legally or institutionally to better protect press freedom in Nigeria?
Kolapo Olapoju: We need clear legal definitions that separate journalism from criminality. Laws like the Cybercrime Act need urgent reform to prevent abuse. Institutionally, there must be stronger checks on security agencies and better training on media rights. Most importantly, we need a judiciary that stands firm when press freedom is tested.
Ekele Peter Agbo, Editor, Leadership
What is the biggest challenge facing press freedom in Nigeria today?
Ekele Peter Agbo: The media in Nigeria face many challenges that invariably impede press freedom. These challenges range from government interference and restrictions to direct censorship and intimidation by media owners who are mostly in bed with the government because of economic pressure. Today, we find ourselves in a situation where the sacred ethical values of journalism are traded for business and government patronage. So, for most media houses to survive, stories are told in their clients’ narratives.
How do government policies or security agencies affect journalists’ ability to report freely?
Ekele Peter Agbo: This comes mainly in the form of economic pressure and intimidation. When you have a media organisation whose legal books are not clean, it’s a toxic environment in which to practice the profession. We have media houses that default on tax payments and pension remittances and owe months of salary. In such cases, many reporters compromise and fail to do a thorough investigation or proper reporting. You have a lot of PR materials on your desk to deal with. And because these media houses are not clean, they kill good stories for their friends in the government and the corporate world. This takes a significant toll on press freedom.
How do you handle cases of harassment or intimidation faced by your journalists/newsroom?
Ekele Peter Agbo: To effectively handle harassment and intimidation in newsrooms, we must ensure adherence to the Journalism Code of Ethics on the one hand as practitioners, and economic independence on the other hand, which brings us to the newsroom funding issue.
The fact is that our newsroom will require a combination of creativity, innovation, and strategic planning to navigate the economic challenges we face and establish a sustainable funding model that works for everyone involved. It’s not an easy task, but with commitment and hard work, we can find a way around the challenge.
What changes are needed legally or institutionally to better protect press freedom in Nigeria?
Ekele Peter Agbo: The first step is to amend laws that appear to threaten press freedom. We must amend, for instance, the Cybercrimes Act and Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act in line with international human rights standards.
Bamas Victoria is a multimedia journalist resident in Nigeria.
Fidelis Mac-Leva is the Deputy Editor of The ICIR/Head of Investigation. He has previously worked with several media outfits in Nigeria, including DAILY TIMES and DAILY TRUST. A compellingly readable Features writer, his forte is Public Interest Journalism which enables him to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted..." He can be reached via fmacleva@icirnigeria.org, @FidelisLeva on X