President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom while urging journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy and responsibility in reporting, warning that misinformation and disinformation pose growing threats to Nigeria’s democracy and national security.
The President made the remarks on Thursday at the maiden State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he described the media as an indispensable pillar of democratic governance and a critical partner in nation-building.
Addressing State House correspondents, Tinubu acknowledged the vital role of the media in holding government accountable and keeping citizens informed, assuring journalists that his administration would continue to protect their constitutional rights.
“I am an apostle of a free press,” the President declared, noting that he had consistently defended media freedom throughout his public life. He, however, stressed that press freedom must be exercised with responsibility, insisting that journalists have a duty to report accurately and avoid content capable of undermining national stability.
Tinubu expressed concern over the increasing spread of fake news, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and digitally manipulated content, urging media professionals not to become channels for unverified information.
According to him, while democracy thrives on freedom of expression and an independent press, the growing influence of social media has heightened the responsibility of professional journalists to distinguish facts from rumours and evidence from speculation.
The President described the relationship between government and the media as one of constructive tension, saying both institutions perform complementary roles essential to democratic governance.
“Government exists to serve the people through leadership, policy and public service. The media exists to serve society by watching those entrusted with power, asking difficult questions and holding government accountable,” he said, adding that healthy scrutiny strengthens rather than weakens democracy.
Reflecting on his years in public life, Tinubu said he had experienced intense media scrutiny and political criticism, particularly during election campaigns, but maintained that democracy ultimately allows citizens to separate facts from falsehoods.
He urged journalists to prioritise credibility over sensationalism and resist the growing temptation of clickbait and viral content.
“The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation, and credibility over clickbait,” he said, adding that freedom of expression does not extend to deliberate defamation or the dissemination of malicious falsehoods.
The President noted that existing laws, including the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant legislation, were designed to protect citizens from cyberstalking, identity theft and malicious misinformation, stressing that such legal safeguards are intended to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s information ecosystem rather than undermine press freedom.
Highlighting his administration’s performance, Tinubu said ongoing economic reforms were beginning to yield positive results, citing improved public revenues, stronger foreign reserves, renewed investor confidence, increased investment in the oil and gas sector and growth in the capital market.
He also pointed to tax reforms, fiscal discipline, infrastructure development and improvements in the business environment as measures laying the foundation for long-term economic prosperity.
On security, the President said military operations had intensified across several theatres, supported by improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency collaboration and enhanced regional and international cooperation.
According to him, thousands of terrorists and other criminal elements have been neutralised, numerous hostages rescued and several communities reclaimed from armed groups, while security agencies continue to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft with professionalism and determination.
Tinubu called for stronger collaboration between government and the media, anchored on mutual respect, professionalism and a shared commitment to national development.
He urged journalists to replace sensationalism with professionalism and prioritise truth over outrage, stressing that responsible journalism remains indispensable to strengthening democracy, promoting accountability and fostering national cohesion.
The President thanked members of the State House Press Corps for their dedication and service, expressing hope that the presidential media dinner would become an enduring platform for strengthening engagement between government and the media in the interest of Nigeria’s democratic development.
