Democracy Cannot Thrive Without a Free Press, Tinubu Tells Journalists

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom, declaring that democracy cannot survive without a free and responsible media.

Speaking on Thursday at the maiden State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner in Abuja, the President described himself as a long-time advocate of press freedom, while urging journalists to uphold professionalism, accuracy and ethical standards in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.

Tinubu said his administration would continue to provide journalists covering the Presidency with the access, resources and freedom needed to perform their duties.

“Democracy is stymied without a free press. The fourth estate of the realm must be a free estate, and not a fief. However, where there is enormous power, there should be accountability and responsibility,” he said.

The President expressed concern over the growing spread of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, deepfakes and voice cloning, warning that media practitioners must not become channels for falsehood or unverified reports capable of undermining national security.

While affirming that freedom of expression and press freedom remain fundamental to democracy, Tinubu stressed that such rights must be exercised responsibly.

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

He noted that the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant laws were designed to protect citizens from malicious falsehoods, cyberstalking and identity theft, insisting that such legislation was not intended to weaken press freedom but to safeguard the nation’s information ecosystem.

The President acknowledged the often adversarial relationship between governments and the media, describing it as a necessary feature of democracy.
“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.

Reflecting on his years in public life, Tinubu said he had become one of Nigeria’s most scrutinised politicians and recalled how speculation and allegations often dominated media reports during the election season before Nigerians ultimately delivered their verdict at the polls.

He urged journalists to prioritise facts over speculation, substance over sensationalism and credibility over the pursuit of clicks and viral content.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the constitutional guarantees of press freedom under Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, describing them as essential pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.

Tinubu also highlighted what he described as the achievements of his administration’s reforms, saying the economy was stabilising, public revenues had increased, investor confidence was returning, foreign reserves had improved and key economic indicators were moving in the right direction.

He added that intensified military operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger inter-agency collaboration had led to the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminal elements, the rescue of numerous hostages and the recovery of communities previously under threat.

Calling for stronger collaboration between government and the media, Tinubu urged journalists to embrace constructive engagement while maintaining their watchdog role.

“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.

The President thanked members of the State House Press Corps for their dedication to informing Nigerians and expressed hope that the presidential dinner would become an enduring tradition that strengthens the relationship between government and the media.