Vice President Kashim Shettima pledges to protect media freedom in Nigeria, assuring journalists of support against repression
Abuja, Nigeria – Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday vowed to safeguard media freedom in Nigeria, declaring it “impossible to have a successful dictator” in the country.
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Shettima made the pledge at the 2025 Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria.
Addressing journalists, Shettima emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting freedom of expression and ensuring that media practitioners operate without harassment or intimidation.
“We owe journalists a space of practice devoid of harassment or fear. That much is non-negotiable,” he said.
The vice president warned that the greatest threat to journalism comes not from mainstream media but from “anarchists on social media,” while describing government-media relations as a “cat and mouse relationship” that benefits more from partnership than confrontation.
Shettima praised Nigerian journalists for resisting disinformation and refusing to be instruments of propaganda, saying their principled stance “sets you apart.”
He further affirmed that the administration would continue creating conditions for the truth to flourish and for journalists’ work to be protected rather than policed.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also reiterated the government’s commitment to press freedom.
He stated that security agencies now follow strict protocols when engaging journalists in conflict zones or during civil protests, ensuring media rights are respected.
IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed urged the federal government to compel state authorities and security agencies to end the repression of journalists nationwide and strengthen protective structures for the media.
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The 2025 IPI Nigeria conference, themed “Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria,” highlighted concerns over attacks on journalists, censorship, and intimidation by state actors despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom.
