NIGERIA: Nigerian Journalists Are Democracy’s Last Line Of Defence – Shettima 

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to protecting press freedom, describing journalists as the nation’s strongest barrier against authoritarian drift.

Speaking at the 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria in Abuja, Shettima said journalists have consistently shielded the country from repression by resisting disinformation, exposing wrongdoing, and correcting false narratives during moments of national tension.

He noted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, media freedom remains non-negotiable and that journalists must be guaranteed a safe environment to carry out their constitutional duties.

The Vice President said: “We owe you a space of practice devoid of harassment, intimidation, or fear. That much is non-negotiable. As a government, we must continue to create an environment where truth can thrive without obstruction and where the work you do is protected rather than policed.”

Shettima applauded the Nigerian press for its historic resilience, insisting that no government has ever succeeded, nor will succeed, in suppressing the media.

He buttressed: “It is impossible, utterly impossible, to have a successful dictator in Nigeria. Never in our history has any person or government succeeded in suppressing the media permanently.”

He also praised journalists for rejecting foreign manipulation and standing firm against coordinated disinformation campaigns, saying their integrity strengthens national sovereignty.

“You have stood firmly against disinformation and refused to surrender your pens to falsehoods or foreign puppeteers. This honourable stance sets you apart,” he said, assuring the media community that he stands before them not as a threatened politician but as “a friend who acknowledges your indispensable role.”

While commending the media’s watchdog role, the Vice President urged practitioners to uphold ethical responsibility, cautioning against those who publish falsehoods without remorse.

He stressed that journalists must continue to prioritise verification over sensationalism and defend the values of nationhood in their reporting.

Shettima continued: “You have stood firm in the coldest nights of national adversity and you have outlived those who attempted to place their boots upon your freedom. You have been the life-size mirror of our nation, reflecting us not as we wish to be seen, but as we truly are.”

The conference, themed “Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria,” brought together leading media professionals, policymakers and advocates to discuss press independence and democratic governance.