President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian media organisations and journalists to uphold professionalism, accuracy, and responsibility in their reportage, warning against the growing spread of misinformation, sensationalism, and clickbait journalism in the digital age.
Speaking at the maiden State House Media Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday night, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom while stressing that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly.
Tinubu described the media as a critical pillar of democracy and acknowledged the important role journalists play in holding government accountable and informing citizens.
“I am an apostle of a free press,” the President said. “Democracy rests on the pillars of freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and others. I have defended and advocated for the rights of the media throughout my public life and will continue to do so.”
However, he cautioned media practitioners against becoming “willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information” capable of undermining national security and public trust.
The President expressed concern over the increasing incidents of fake news, misinformation, disinformation, deep fakes, and voice and facial cloning, describing them as some of the major challenges confronting journalism in the social media era.
“We live in an era where misinformation and disinformation travel faster than facts,” Tinubu said. “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.”
He noted that professional journalism remains essential in distinguishing truth from rumours and facts from speculation, particularly at a time when social media has enabled virtually anyone with a smartphone to disseminate information.
Read Also:
Tinubu also stressed that while government and the media may often appear to be adversaries in a democracy, both institutions ultimately serve the same national interest.
“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 stated.
Reflecting on his long political career, Tinubu said he had become one of the most scrutinised politicians in Nigeria’s democratic history and observed how rumours and allegations often gained traction before facts were established.
He recalled instances where conflicting headlines about the economy emerged within short periods and questioned whether sufficient context and analysis were always provided to the public.
The President maintained that press freedom does not include the right to deliberately mislead or defame individuals, adding that existing laws such as the Cybercrimes Act were designed to protect citizens from malicious falsehoods and digital abuses rather than suppress press freedom.
“These safeguards are not intended to weaken press freedom,” he said.
“Rather, they exist to protect citizens and preserve the integrity of our information ecosystem.”
Tinubu further reiterated his administration’s commitment to constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of expression and the media’s responsibility to hold government accountable, referencing Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution as well as the Freedom of Information Act.
On governance and economic reforms, the President said his administration’s policies were beginning to yield positive results, citing improvements in public revenue, foreign reserves, investor confidence, and renewed investments in the oil and gas sector.
He also highlighted ongoing security efforts across the country, stating that military operations and intelligence coordination had intensified, leading to the rescue of hostages, recovery of threatened communities, and neutralisation of criminal elements and terrorists.
Tinubu concluded by calling for stronger collaboration between government and the media through constructive engagement, professionalism, and a shared commitment to national development.
“Let us replace sensationalism with professionalism. Let us replace the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth,” he said.
