I am an apostle of free press – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called on journalists across the country to remain committed to ethical reporting, stressing that professionalism, factual accuracy and a sense of responsibility are indispensable to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking on Thursday at the inaugural State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President described the media as an indispensable institution that complements government in building a stable and democratic nation.

Tinubu reaffirmed his long-standing support for press freedom, insisting that his administration remained committed to protecting the constitutional rights of journalists and citizens to freely express themselves.

“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.”

While defending media freedom, the President reminded practitioners that the privilege must be exercised with caution and integrity.

“Journalists and citizens must not forget the imperative of balancing rights with responsibility and the duty to report with care, accuracy and facts.”

He expressed concern over the spread of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and the increasing use of artificial intelligence to produce deceptive content, warning journalists against becoming channels for false narratives.

“Media practitioners should not be willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information injurious to national security and the nation.”

Tinubu said the interaction between government and the press should be viewed as a healthy democratic relationship in which each side performs distinct but complementary roles.

“Government exists to serve the people through leadership and policy. The media exists to watch those entrusted with power, ask difficult questions and hold government accountable.”

According to him, scrutiny by the media is essential to accountable governance.

“Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain. The media must question. That arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension.”

The President urged both government officials and journalists to cultivate mutual respect instead of confrontation.

“Let us replace needless hostility with constructive engagement. Let us replace sensationalism with professionalism and the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth.”

He observed that the rise of social media had made credible journalism even more valuable, urging reporters to prioritise verified information above online popularity.

“The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation, credibility over clickbait and the endless race for followers, likes and viral outrage.”

Tinubu added that the responsibility of professional journalism was to distinguish verified facts from speculation and rumours.

“Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to deliberately mislead. Rights come with responsibilities.”

The President also defended existing legislation such as the Cybercrimes Act, saying its purpose was to safeguard citizens and preserve the integrity of the country’s information space rather than suppress press freedom.

He cited constitutional provisions protecting both freedom of expression and the watchdog role of the media.

“Section 39 guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression, while Section 22 places upon the media the noble responsibility of holding government accountable.”

Turning to the economy, Tinubu said reforms introduced by his administration were beginning to produce encouraging outcomes.

“Our economy is stabilising. Public revenues have strengthened significantly. Investor confidence is returning and key economic indicators are moving in the right direction.”

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat insecurity, saying security agencies had intensified operations nationwide.

“Military operations have intensified, intelligence gathering has improved, inter-agency collaboration has strengthened and communities previously under threat have been reclaimed.”

Tinubu expressed optimism that the annual State House Media Corps dinner would become a lasting platform for fostering stronger cooperation between the Presidency and the media.