President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom while urging journalists to place truth, accuracy, and professionalism above sensational reporting and unverified information.
He gave the charge on Thursday at the maiden State House Media Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He told journalists covering the Presidency that democracy depends on a free press, but said that freedom must be matched with responsibility to protect public trust and national stability.
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The event brought together members of the State House Press Corps and government officials. It was organised to strengthen the relationship between the Presidency and journalists who report government activities.
Tinubu used the occasion to restate his long-standing support for media freedom. He said his administration would continue to provide journalists with access, resources and the freedom required to perform their constitutional duties.
Constitution protects media freedom
Tinubu said freedom of expression and freedom of the press are among the pillars of democracy. He noted that the Constitution gives the media the responsibility of holding government accountable while also protecting the right of Nigerians to freely express their views.
He said these constitutional rights should be exercised with professionalism and care. He warned that journalists should verify facts before publication and avoid reports that could mislead the public or threaten national peace.
Tinubu maintained that the relationship between government and the media naturally involves scrutiny and difficult questions because both sides perform different duties in a democratic society.
He explained that government is expected to provide leadership and public service, while journalists are expected to monitor those in power and demand explanations whenever necessary. He said this healthy tension should strengthen democracy rather than weaken it.
He also praised members of the State House Press Corps for their work in keeping Nigerians informed about government activities.
President warns against misinformation
Tinubu expressed worry over the spread of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, voice cloning, facial cloning and deepfakes in the digital age.
He urged professional journalists not to publish or circulate false or unverified information. He said the public depends on trained journalists to separate facts from rumours, evidence from opinions and truth from speculation.
Using his own experience in public life, the President said he had often seen sharply different headlines published within a short period. He questioned whether enough effort was always made to provide readers with proper context before stories were published.
He also recalled the period before the general election, when rumours and allegations were widely circulated. Tinubu said democracy eventually allowed Nigerians to judge the facts and make their decision through the ballot.
The President said freedom of expression should never be interpreted as freedom to defame people or deliberately spread false information. He stressed that public confidence in the media depends on fairness, integrity and accuracy.
Tinubu also referred to existing Nigerian laws, including the Cybercrimes Act, which seek to protect citizens from cyberstalking, identity theft and malicious falsehood. He said such laws are meant to protect the integrity of the country’s information space and not to deny legitimate press freedom.
While addressing the gathering, Tinubu also spoke about his administration’s activities in the economy and security sector. He said government reforms were improving public revenue, foreign reserves, investment, infrastructure and the business environment.
On security, he said military operations, intelligence gathering and cooperation among security agencies had intensified. He stated that many criminal groups had been neutralised, hostages rescued and communities recovered from violent criminals.
Tinubu, however, said the purpose of the dinner was not to blame the media but to celebrate its role in national development. He described journalists as important partners in strengthening democracy, informing citizens and promoting national development.
He urged government and the media to continue building mutual respect while maintaining accountability. He called on journalists to replace sensational reporting with professionalism and ensure that truth remains the foundation of their work.
Tinubu thanked members of the media for their service and dedication to Nigeria’s democracy.
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