Freedom of the Press: A Term that Betrays its Meaning in Nigeria -By Eniola Abdulroqeeb Arówólò

Evidently speaking, the Press as the fourth realm of the estate suffers from unfathomable and inimical threats and harms from moguls, armed forces and politicians, especially. The state of the Press in Nigeria as I write is inhumanely demoralizing and undemocratic in its totality. As a matter of fact, the European Union revealed that 44 journalists have been killed in 2021 alone in Nigeria. Egbuson, EU Delegation Representative, affirmed this during the commemoration of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. That, however, is just one of the other violations against the Freedom of the Press.

According to Council on Foreign Relations, Nigeria is ranked 120 on the World Press Freedom Index, a drop of five spots from its ranking in 2020 despite the provisions adumbrated in the constitution that uphold the Freedom of the Press. The country stifles the professional duties of the journalists based on the government’s propensity for dictatorial rule disguised as democracy. Section 39 (1) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended states lucidly that: Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. Subsection (2) furthers this with: Without prejudice to the generality of subsection 1 of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions.

The aforesaid provisions have been trampled upon on a number of events by the politicians and armed forces. Just a couple of days ago, the founder and investigative journalist of FIJ. Nig., Fisayo Soyombo, was detained following a story about Police Corruption exposed and published on the online media. The internationally acclaimed investigative journalist, however, was released after a series of calls by media houses, activists and lawyers made to the office of Inspector General of Police in Abuja. But the troubling question is, what about the less-recognized and industrious journalists ensconced in this quagmire? What about Salem, a Vanguard reporter, found dead on November 11th, 2021 after a commercial driver confessed to killing him? Or Abayomi Adeshida, a photojournalist, beaten and hauled on the floor like a sack of rice by the Vice-president Osibanjo’s aides met with only laborious, mendacious and jocund apologies?

The repositioning of the Press in its rightful space should be regarded and ensured by the government. Or what functionality and progress of a country if the tier that serves as a fillip to her is gagged, decimated and ruled out? The prospect of the Press is tenebrous as it shrinks gradually from the dangers, risks, threats and harms levelled on it. The Federal President in his inaugural speech in 2015 buttressed the fact that democracy is the path to national development and growth. He avowed to then work assiduously to assure democratic system in the country. And I seem to be in a frivolous dither whether sheer breach of fundamental human rights was within the ambits of democracy or not.