THE MINISTER of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described a sure-footed, critical, and independent press is the central nervous system of a functional democracy.
He said this on Tuesday at the second Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria.
Idris, the Special Guest at the event that was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the theme of the conference: “Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria,” said it must be weighed against what happened in the past and if it is happening with the present administration.
He said: “As such, it demands our collective reflection.
“But as we gather today, our first duty must be to a shared foundation of facts.
“We must ask: does this theme describe our present reality, or does it risk anchoring us to a sad past we are actively working to transcend?
“If the theme suggests an active, systemic policy of repression by the current administration, then we must, with respect, interrogate it against the available evidence.
“A dialogue on freedom cannot itself be detached from fact.
“It is in that spirit of candour and shared purpose that I stand before you today, not to reel out a list of government achievements, but to present evidence and engage in a critical dialogue about the path we are walking together towards a more accountable and sustainable democracy.
“Let me state without any ambiguity that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu operates on the fundamental principle that a sure-footed, critical, and independent press is the central nervous system of a functioning democracy.
“It is significantly the mechanism through which a nation holds a conversation with itself.
“Our presence here today, under the chairmanship of His Excellency the Vice President, is a deliberate signal of our commitment to that conversation.”
The Minister said security agencies now operate under stricter protocols to respect the rights of journalists in conflict zones and during civil demonstrations.
He said the Tinubu administration has continued to guarantee the proper assurances of the enabling environment necessary for licensed media establishments to thrive and give more voices to our people without ambiguity or fear.
He added: “We, however, acknowledge that challenges persist.
“The balance between national security, combating misinformation, and upholding absolute press freedom is a complex one, navigated by nations across the globe.
“Our approach to this complexity is the most telling proof of our restraint.
“Let me offer a clear illustration of our principled approach.
“Recently, a major national publication circulated a dangerously false story alleging that a sovereign national agreement compelled Nigeria to adopt LGBTQ+ rights.
“Such disinformation deliberately exploits sensitive cultural and religious fault lines, posing a direct threat to national cohesion by manufacturing a crisis between state policy and deeply held public values.
“In that precise circumstance, the administration’s core priority was resolutely affirmed: to defend press freedom by defending the integrity of the information space upon which it depends.
“We categorically rejected the old playbook of coercion, which would only have inflamed tensions.
“Instead, we pursued transparency, immediately publishing the full, unadulterated agreement to demonstrate its content had no such provisions, issuing detailed rebuttals, and engaging the public directly.
“We channeled the complaint through the independent media ombudsman, respecting its self-regulatory mechanism.
“The result was that a potent falsehood, capable of sowing significant discord, was disarmed by the power of facts and an unwavering commitment to democratic dialogue over division.
“This episode stands demonstrates our restraint and our resolve to protect both social harmony and the press from the corrosive effects of disinformation.
“Our approach, however, is not to retreat into control but to engage through dialogue and build proactive solutions.”
Idris said in moving forward, it was worthy of note that Nigeria has been selected to host the regional Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute.
He said the institute will not be a government mouthpiece, but a neutral, pan-African hub for training journalists, educators, and citizens to navigate the digital age, enhance critical thinking, source verification, and ethical reporting from within the country’s cultural context.
He said the ultimate, long-term investment is inoculating the society against disinformation by empowering its people.
He thus extended a formal invitation to every organisation to join in its official unveiling in the first quarter of 2026.
He added: “We remain committed to working with the IPI, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the NUJ to review regulatory frameworks, ensuring they protect both free speech and the public good in line with global best practices.
“Distinguished guests and delegates, as one from amongst you who remains true to our shared vision, I leave you with this pledge: I will continue to be an unwavering voice within the Federal Executive Council, championing the cause of a free press and an open society and sustaining our current tempo, moving in the right direction.”
