President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian journalists to put the country’s national interest above sensational reporting, warning that irresponsible coverage of terrorism and insecurity could embolden criminal groups and threaten national security.
The President made the appeal on Thursday during the maiden State House Press Corps Dinner held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, where he urged media practitioners to remain committed to factual reporting while avoiding narratives that could aid terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements.
According to him, the media occupies a critical position in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and promoting national unity, especially at a time when the country is confronting security challenges.
“They want us divided. They want you and me to be afraid of one another. We will not surrender to their whims and caprices. The media must resist the temptation of becoming megaphones for terrorists and kidnappers. We must protect our nation,” the President said.
He reminded journalists of the constitutional commitment shared by both government and the press to protect the country, stressing that irresponsible reporting could undermine efforts to restore peace and stability.
“I made a commitment at the inauguration that I will do everything possible within my power to be consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You and I promise one another that we must not undermine our country with irresponsible reporting. We will have no safe space left if we do,” he stated.
Tinubu, who was decorated as the Grand Patron of the State House Press Corps during the event, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to freedom of expression and press freedom, describing both as indispensable to democratic governance.
However, he maintained that such freedoms must be exercised with responsibility.
He encouraged journalists to go beyond reporting daily events by providing context that helps citizens understand government policies and their long-term objectives.
“You must provide context and help citizens understand not just what has changed, but where we are headed,” he said.
The President also cautioned against the spread of misinformation, fake news and digital manipulation, urging media professionals to uphold the highest ethical standards.
“The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation and credibility over clickbait. Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to mislead. Public trust is earned through fairness, accuracy and responsibility,” he added.
Tinubu defended the Cybercrimes Act, saying the legislation was intended to protect citizens from malicious falsehoods and abuses in the digital space rather than suppress press freedom.
On the economy, the President expressed confidence that the difficult reforms introduced by his administration were producing positive results, declaring that Nigeria had moved beyond what he described as “the dark tunnel of uncertainty”.
He said key economic indicators had improved, citing increased public revenue, foreign reserves exceeding $50 billion, renewed investor confidence and fresh investments in the oil and gas sector as evidence of progress.
Addressing security, Tinubu said military operations had intensified while intelligence gathering and collaboration among security agencies had improved significantly.
According to him, the renewed efforts have led to the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and other criminal elements, the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of communities previously occupied by armed groups.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to secure every part of our country so that every Nigerian can live and prosper in peace,” he said.
The dinner was attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal; several cabinet ministers; and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
In separate remarks, Akume, Gbajabiamila and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, praised the administration’s reform agenda, highlighting achievements in infrastructure, education and governance over the past three years.
Idris also urged journalists to report security issues responsibly, warning against headlines that could inadvertently glorify terrorists or criminal organisations.
He noted that initiatives such as the UNESCO-backed Media and Information Literacy Institute and the Free TV digital broadcasting platform reflected the government’s commitment to strengthening the media sector.
Earlier, Chairman of the State House Press Corps, Emmanuel Anule, appealed to Tinubu to make the dinner an annual event to strengthen engagement between the Presidency and journalists covering the State House.
He said regular interaction would improve communication, reduce misunderstandings and build trust, while reaffirming the commitment of the press corps to fair, factual and professional reporting.
The event also featured awards recognising outstanding contributions to national development.
Honourees included the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; industrialist Aliko Dangote; businessman Tony Elumelu; Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Former Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Segun Adeniyi, received a special recognition award as the first Special Adviser to serve as presidential spokesman, while retired Reuters correspondent Felix Onuah was honoured as the longest-serving State House correspondent. Veteran editor Nicholas Okechukwu, the late Baba Ladan Abubakar and Emmanuel Anule also received awards for distinguished service.
