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• Says press freedom comes with responsibility
• Wike, Dangote, Adedeji, Adeniyi, others receive outstanding awards
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday called on Nigerian journalists to prioritise national interest over sensationalism, warning that careless reporting can boost terrorists and criminal networks and weaken the country’s security and democratic gains.
Speaking at the inaugural Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House, where he was decorated Grand Patron of the State House Press Corps, Tinubu urged the media to strike a balance between press freedom and responsibility as Nigeria confronts intensified security threats.
“I made a commitment at the inauguration that I will do everything possible in my power to be consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the president said. “You and I promise one another that we must not undermine our country with irresponsible reporting. We will have no safe space left if we do.”
Tinubu said journalists must not “become an amplifier for those who wish to harm us” as security forces work to neutralise criminal elements and rescue hostages. “They want us divided. They want you and me to be afraid of one another. We will not surrender to their whims and caprices. The media must resist the temptation of becoming megaphones for terrorists and kidnappers. We must protect our nation. Tonight, we gather not as adversaries but as partners in the service of our democracy and our people,” he added.
While affirming that freedom of speech and press freedom remain fundamental to democracy, Tinubu stressed that those rights come with obligations, particularly during heightened security challenges. “You must provide context and help citizens understand not just what has changed, but where we are headed,” he said, urging reporters to favour verified facts over sensational narratives.
Warning about the spread of falsehoods in the digital age, the president said professional journalism is indispensable. “The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation and credibility over clickbait,” he said. “Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to mislead. Public trust is earned through fairness, accuracy and responsibility.”
Defending his administration’s policies, Tinubu said economic reforms are beginning to yield improvements. “Our economy is stabilising. Public revenues are strengthening, foreign reserves have risen above $50 billion, investors’ confidence has returned, and the oil and gas sector is attracting fresh investments,” he said. On security, he highlighted intensified military operations, improved intelligence and cooperation among security agencies that have, he said, “led to the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminal elements, the rescue of hostages and the recovery of communities previously under attack.”
The president also framed laws such as the Cybercrimes Act as protective measures against malicious falsehood rather than tools to curtail press freedom. “Public trust is earned through fairness, accuracy and responsibility,” he reiterated.
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Senior officials at the dinner echoed calls for responsible reportage. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, praised the administration’s infrastructure and social programmes and highlighted the student loan programme and major projects, while Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila lauded Tinubu’s reform drive.
In his remarks, Gbajabiamila described the president as “a leader pursuing multiple reforms at a pace rarely seen in Nigeria” and said his work ethic and governance capacity distinguished the administration.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris directly appealed to journalists on security reporting. “Journalism should promote national cohesion while remaining committed to truth, fairness, and professionalism,” he said, urging the media to “avoid headlines that amplify terrorists and criminal groups.”
He highlighted recent initiatives, including a UNESCO-backed Media and Information Literacy Institute and the launch of the Free TV digital broadcasting platform, as evidence of government support for a stronger media landscape.
State House Press Corps Chairman Emmanuel Anule used the occasion to ask that the dinner become a permanent annual forum. “An informal, annual State House Press Corps forum would create a predictable channel for dialogue and partnership between government and the journalists who translate, scrutinise and explain policies for Nigerians and international audiences,” he said, arguing that regular engagement would reduce misunderstandings and build trust.
He pledged that his corps would “continue to report the activities of the Presidency fairly, professionally and with verified facts.”
The event honoured several Nigerians for public service, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, industrialist Aliko Dangote, philanthropist Tony Elumelu, and Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, among others. Former presidential spokesman Segun Adeniyi, retired Reuters correspondent Felix Onuah, Nicholas Okechukwu and several media veterans also received awards.
President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu attended the dinner alongside governors, ministers and senior government officials.
