Press freedom: IPI lists IGP, 2 govs in Book of Infamy

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria on Tuesday unveiled its first-ever Book of Infamy, listing three public officials accused of violating press freedom—Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno; and Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago.

At the same ceremony, the organisation honoured the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, for what it described as exemplary engagement and corrective leadership.

Vice President Kashim Shettima performed the unveiling during the opening of the Second Annual Conference of IPI Nigeria in Abuja.

The Book of Infamy, according to IPI officials, is designed to publicly document actions taken by state actors considered hostile to press freedom.

The IPI said Governor Eno made the list for barring the crew of Channels Television from covering activities at the Akwa Ibom Government House, while Governor Bago was indicted for ordering the closure of Badeggi FM, a private radio station in Niger State.

IGP Egbetokun was listed for allegedly ignoring appeals to stop what IPI described as “arbitrary arrests of journalists nationwide” carried out by police operatives.

IPI Nigeria noted that despite its interventions and appeals for a reversal of the decisions affecting journalists in Akwa Ibom and Niger States, both governors “refused to back down.” In contrast, DG Ajayi was praised as “a listening head of a sensitive government agency” who has acted on concerns raised by the media and reversed violations flagged by IPI.

Among the achievements attributed to the DSS DG was the removal of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, from a government watch list after nearly 40 years, as well as the quick release of journalists arrested in error.

Responding to the IPI’s position, Vice President Shettima pledged to personally engage those named in the Book of Infamy within two weeks. He also invited IPI President Musikilu Mojeed to accompany him to Akwa Ibom during his next visit to help resolve the Channels TV issue.

Shettima described both Bago and Egbetokun as friends and assured that he would reach out to them promptly.

The 2nd Annual Conference of IPI Nigeria is held from Tuesday to Wednesday, culminating in the Annual General Meeting of the IPI Nigeria Board. At the opening ceremony, over 50 new members were formally inducted as part of the 2025 programme.

Democracy safe only when power is under observation – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chaired the opening ceremony, used the platform to reaffirm the centrality of the media to democratic survival, insisting that “democracy is safe only when power is under constant observation.”

In his address, he said the vigilance of journalists remains the strongest bulwark against dictatorship, but stressed that this influence must be exercised with responsibility. “And it is safe only when those who observe do so with integrity rather than vendetta. That is where your heroism begins,” he said.

Shettima noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being a media owner, would not tolerate repression of the press. According to him, “I understand that journalists and politicians sometimes enjoy the friendship of a cat and a mouse. Each side is convinced that the other requires close monitoring. But we are better off as friends.”

He urged journalists to continue to report events objectively, despite the inevitable clashes of interest that arise between the media and political actors. “Your job is to report events as they are, and this cannot be easy where interests collide. Yet, the difficulty of the task does not diminish your essence. It only affirms your indispensability,” he said.

Although he acknowledged the complex relationship between media and government, Shettima insisted that Nigeria must move beyond the old adversarial dynamic. “But this cat-and-mouse tango is not our destination. What we need is a relationship rooted in openness,” he said. He cautioned that some journalists “knowingly fabricate tales” and refuse to retract proven falsehoods, stressing that such actors damage the profession.

Nonetheless, Shettima emphasised that the government owes journalists protection. “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we owe you a space of practice devoid of harassment, intimidation or fear. That much is non-negotiable.”

He also commended the Nigerian media for resisting foreign disinformation campaigns, describing journalists as “professional troublemakers” whose vigilance keeps democracy afloat. He said: “One of the proudest moments for journalism in contemporary Nigeria has been the sincerity with which the overwhelming majority of you continue to confront the rising tide of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference.”

According to him, the pen is mightier than the sword when wielded with ethics. “Without ethics, journalism becomes nothing more than a dictatorship of text and airwaves,” he warned.

We’ll fiercely resist further attacks on journalists – IPI

IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, in his welcome address, declared that the organisation will “fiercely resist” any further attacks on journalists in the country. He lamented the rising pattern of state-enabled abuses and called for a comprehensive review of laws that facilitate the repression of journalists, particularly the cybercrime law and criminal defamation clauses.

Mojeed said, “There are too many centres of power routinely deploying state powers against journalists without consequences. When crimes against journalists go unpunished, the message is dangerous—that silencing the press is acceptable.”

He described journalism as a “tough, risky and selfless public service,” insisting that journalists “at least deserve respect and protection.” According to him, Nigeria’s fall from 112th to 122nd in the global Press Freedom Ranking is not due to a single episode but the cumulative effect of “consistent and aggressive repression across states.”

He cited several incidents, including the closure of four broadcast stations in Zamfara for airing an opposition rally; intimidation of investigative journalists; frequent arrests under the cybercrime law; and attacks on over 50 journalists covering protests in August 2024. “These are not abstractions. They have names, faces, and families,” he said.

Mojeed urged journalists nationwide to embrace solidarity. “When a journalist is arrested in Kano, colleagues in Akwa Ibom must care,” he said. “Independent journalism is the lifeblood of democracy.”

He called on the Federal Government to rein in state governors, security agencies and political actors who harass journalists and to establish a functioning protection mechanism for media professionals.

Mojeed also paid tribute to the late Rafat Salami, an IPI member and former Treasurer, announcing an endowed prize in her honour at the University of Abuja. He recalled that despite her failing health, “she insisted on attending the conference… Her commitment was a reminder that journalism is not merely a job; it is a calling.”

FG committed to a free press – Information minister

In his address, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the conference theme—“Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria”—demanded honest reflection but should not suggest that the present administration is engaged in systematic repression.

He argued that decisions must be anchored on verifiable facts and insisted that the Tinubu administration believes strongly that “a sure-footed, critical, and independent press is the central nervous system of a functioning democracy.”

Idris outlined steps taken by the government to guarantee press freedom, including stricter protocols for security agencies and support systems for licensed media houses. He acknowledged ongoing challenges, especially those involving balancing national security with press freedom, but maintained that the government has shown restraint in dealing with misinformation.

Citing a recent incident in which a major newspaper published a false story alleging that Nigeria had agreed to adopt LGBTQ+ rights, Idris said the government avoided coercion and instead relied on transparency by publishing the full agreement. He praised the media ombudsman’s role in addressing the matter.

The minister also announced that Nigeria would host a regional Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute aimed at combating disinformation through training and capacity building for journalists, educators, and citizens.

He said, “Our approach is not to retreat into control but to engage through dialogue.”

He pledged to remain a strong advocate of press freedom within the Federal Executive Council.

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