Press Freedom: Practitioners Bemoan Media Suppression In Nigeria
Media practitioners, on Monday, made a clarion call for press freedom in Nigeria to enhance the nation’s democracy.
This was advocated by some media experts during a parley hosted by Enugu’s Dream FM to mark World Press Freedom Day.
According to the resource persons, government officials have contributed towards the subjugation of the press in the country.
Comrade Sam Udekwe, the immediate Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Enugu State, said, “Press freedom and democracy are inseparable. It is amplifying the voices of the masses. Press freedom impacts the progress of democracy.
“If we really practise democracy in Nigeria, there should be press freedom.
“The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, Chapter 4, Section 39, stated that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression without interference. But our political class manoeuvres and cow the press.”
A former Vice Chairman, NUJ, South East, Comrade Ken Offorma, who was also on the programme, said, “The greatest challenge to press freedom is coming from the parliament. They achieved this through the Cybercrime Act 2024.
“With it, people who have things to hide intimidate the press. You can see how VeryDarkMan is now detained for over 72 hours without being charged in court.
“You can’t restrict a citizen’s rights by hearsay. Nigeria’s rating has now dropped by 10 per cent in the Press Freedom Index. If one sends a text message, it becomes a cybercrime.
“Law enforcement agents have also failed in the preservation of press freedom. Many journalists have been maimed, some killed, and nothing happened.”
The duo condemned the undue influence of government officials on media houses, which, according to them, “influence editorial policies of media houses”.
World Press Freedom Day, held May 3rd every year, was declared in 1993 by the United Nations for governments all over the world to reflect on their commitment to press freedom. The declaration is domesticated in Nigeria.
Press Freedom: Practitioners Bemoan Media Suppression In Nigeria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
