By Charles Chijioke
President Bola Tinubu has cautioned Nigerian journalists against sacrificing accuracy and professionalism for sensational headlines, viral content and social media engagement, insisting that freedom of expression must never be used as a cover for defamation or misinformation.
Afrilensnews reports that the President delivered the message on Thursday during the maiden State House Media Dinner in Abuja, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom while urging media professionals to uphold the ethics of responsible journalism.
Describing himself as a long-time defender of press freedom, Tinubu said journalists have a constitutional responsibility to report accurately and avoid content capable of misleading the public or inflaming tensions.
“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,” the President said.
He stressed that while free speech remains a pillar of democracy, it comes with obligations.
“While press freedom and free speech remain the bedrock of an open and democratic society, journalists and citizens must also not forget the imperative of balancing rights with responsibility and the duty you hold to society to report and inform with care and accuracy to facts and in a manner that ensures the society is not set on fire.”
The President further urged media organisations to prioritise truth and credibility above online popularity.
“The media must choose fact over falsehood. The media must choose substance over sensation. The media must choose credibility over clickbait and the endless race for followers, likes, and viral outrage.”
Tinubu noted that the rapid rise of misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated content has made the role of professional journalists even more critical.
“The public depends on journalists not merely to report events but to separate fact from fiction, truth from speculation, and evidence from opinion.”
“In a world where everyone with a smartphone is now a journalist, the responsibility of professional journalism has never been greater.”
Reiterating his position, the President declared that freedom of expression should not be mistaken for a licence to malign others.
“Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame, while press freedom is not freedom to deliberately mislead.”
Speaking on the relationship between government and the media, Tinubu described both institutions as partners in nation-building despite their naturally adversarial democratic roles.
“We are adversaries only in the democratic sense, as the media constantly distrust those in power. In nation-building, we are partners.”
According to him, democratic governance thrives when the media scrutinises those in authority while the government remains accountable to the people.
He also defended existing digital regulations, including the Cybercrimes Act, saying they are designed to protect Nigerians against malicious falsehoods, cyberstalking, identity theft and other online abuses rather than suppress press freedom.
On the economy, the President maintained that his administration’s reforms are beginning to produce positive results, citing stronger public revenues, increased allocations to state governments, improving investor confidence, healthier foreign reserves and renewed investments in the oil and gas sector.
Tinubu equally highlighted ongoing military operations across the country, saying intensified security efforts have led to the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminals, the rescue of numerous hostages and the recovery of previously threatened communities.
He concluded by calling for stronger cooperation between government and the media while preserving the watchdog role of journalism.
“Let us replace needless hostility with constructive engagement. Let us replace sensationalism with professionalism. Let us replace the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth.”
“Together, let us continue building a nation where truth matters, accountability thrives, democracy flourishes, and every Nigerian has reason to believe in the promise of our country.”
The President’s remarks come amid growing debates in Nigeria over misinformation, online content regulation and the balance between press freedom and accountability in the digital age.
The comments are expected to generate mixed reactions. Supporters are likely to view the call as a timely reminder for responsible journalism, while critics may raise fresh concerns about the potential use of existing laws, particularly the Cybercrimes Act, against journalists and media organisations.
Tinubu’s statement is also expected to reignite public discussion on the limits of free speech, the fight against fake news and the responsibilities of both government and the media in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Source: TheCable.
