By Ebi Kesiena
Over 25 Nigerian journalists have called on President Bola Tinubu to halt what they described as a war against free speech in the country.
In a declaration signed during a stakeholder meeting held in Abuja recently, participants underscored the alarming state of press freedom in Nigeria.
The event, organized by Gatefield in collaboration with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), featured the screening of Cost of Truth, a documentary highlighting the systemic repression faced by journalists and civic actors. Discussions at the event painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s free speech landscape, marked by escalating arrests, harassment, and legal intimidation of media practitioners.
Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, Shirley Ewang, explained that the numbers were staggering, with nearly 70 journalists arrested in 2024 alone, a figure that has doubled since earlier in the year.
She added that this repression extends beyond the media, as ordinary citizens face daily threats and intimidation designed to silence dissent.
“We’ve proven that collective action works,” Ewang stated, citing past successes such as the #FreeDanielOjukwu campaign and resistance against the persecution of #EndBadGovernance protesters. She emphasized the power of collective strength in defending democracy.
The documentary, Cost of Truth, showcased personal narratives and evidence of the human toll of Nigeria’s repressive laws, such as Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act. It brought to light the challenges posed by state abuses, which have been used to target journalists and stifle critical voices.
Also, Social justice defender Tsema Ede noted that resilience is crucial in these times. “Even when the system fails us, we must remain intentional about protecting our rights, defending others, and securing our future,” urging Nigerians to resist fatigue and despair.
CJID Project Manager for Media Freedom, Christiana Longe, highlighted that Sections 39 and 22 of Nigeria’s Constitution protect press freedom, yet these safeguards are increasingly undermined. Project Associate Adebayo Aare presented findings from CJID’s Press Attack Tracker, demonstrating the severity and frequency of violations against journalists nationwide.
Participants at the event unanimously agreed that urgent steps are needed to protect free speech and defend democracy, calling on the government to act swiftly to end the systemic repression of journalists and civic actors.
