President Tinubu: Democracy Is Stymied Without Free Press

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said a free press is essential to democracy while the media serves as a constitutional partner in governance.

The President stated this while addressing journalists at the maiden State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner in Abuja.

In his remarks, the President said his government remains committed to ensuring journalists have access, resources, and the freedom to carry out their duties as provided by the Constitution.

He noted that democracy rests on freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association.

“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,” he stated.

President Tinubu added that while press freedom is foundational, journalists and citizens must also balance rights with responsibility, reporting with care, accuracy, and attention to facts.

Rights, responsibility and misinformation

President Tinubu said the media must not be a courier of falsehood or unverified information that could affect national security.

He cited concerns around misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and the use of voice, facial cloning and deep fakes.

“Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to deliberately mislead,” he said while noting that rights come with responsibilities and that public trust is earned through fairness, professionalism, accuracy, and integrity.

The Nigerian Leader referenced existing laws, including the Cybercrimes Act, as safeguards intended to protect citizens and preserve the integrity of the information ecosystem, while stating that such measures are not intended to weaken press freedom.

Describing the relationship between government and the media as both partnership and rivalry, the President said: “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 said the arrangement creates tension by design, because democracy requires scrutiny.

He urged the media to choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation, and credibility over clickbait.

He also said professional journalism must remain the standard for distinguishing truth from rumour.

The President cited Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and place responsibility on the media to hold government accountable.

He also referenced the Freedom of Information Act as a tool for transparency and citizen access to information, stating that his administration’s commitment to these principles remains.

On reforms and security

President Tinubu said the administration’s reforms are yielding results, pointing to improved public revenues, higher allocations to states, renewed investor confidence, stronger foreign reserves, growth in the stock market, and new investment in oil and gas.

He said infrastructure, tax, and fiscal reforms are laying foundations for a more competitive economy.

On security, the President said the government has intensified military operations, improved intelligence gathering, strengthened inter-agency collaboration, and expanded regional and international cooperation.

He reported that thousands of criminal elements and terrorists have been neutralised, hostages rescued, and communities reclaimed, while noting that security agencies continue to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and oil theft.

The President then called for deeper mutual respect, professionalism, and responsibility between government and the media.

“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,” he said.