President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy, and ethics, emphasising that responsible journalism is essential to the survival of democracy.
Speaking on Thursday at the maiden State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu described the media as a vital institution that partners with government to strengthen democratic governance and national stability.
While reaffirming his commitment to press freedom, the President stressed that freedom of expression must be exercised with responsibility and integrity.“I am an apostle of a free press. I have defended and advocated for the rights of the media throughout my public life and will continue to do so,” Tinubu said.
He, however, warned that press freedom should not be mistaken for freedom to mislead. “Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to deliberately mislead. Rights come with responsibilities,” the President declared.
Tinubu expressed concern over the rising tide of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence to generate deceptive content. He cautioned journalists against becoming conduits for unverified or false information that could undermine national security and public trust.“
Media practitioners should not be willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information injurious to national security and the nation,” he said.The President advocated for a healthy democratic partnership between the government and the media, where both institutions play complementary roles.“Government exists to serve the people through leadership and policy.
The media exists to watch those entrusted with power, ask difficult questions and hold government accountable,” he noted.He added: “Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain. The media must question. That arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension.”Tinubu called for a shift from hostility to constructive engagement, urging journalists to prioritise professionalism over sensationalism.“Let us replace needless hostility with constructive engagement.
Let us replace sensationalism with professionalism and the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth,” he said.He emphasised that in the age of social media and instant information, credible journalism remains crucial.
“The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation, credibility over clickbait,” Tinubu stated.The President also defended laws such as the Cybercrimes Act, describing them as necessary tools to protect citizens and safeguard the integrity of the nation’s information space, rather than instruments to suppress press freedom. He cited Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression while assigning the media a watchdog role.
On the economy, Tinubu said his administration’s reforms are yielding results, with strengthening public revenues, returning investor confidence, and improving key economic indicators.
He also highlighted intensified security operations across the country, noting improved intelligence, better inter-agency collaboration, and the reclamation of communities previously under threat.
The President expressed hope that the annual State House Media Corps dinner would become a permanent platform for fostering better understanding and collaboration between the Presidency and the media.
