Information minister Mohammed Idris says Nigerian journalists will breathe and flourish under President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The minister gave the assurance during his maiden visit to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) on Tuesday in Abuja. He said the NPC would discharge its responsibilities diligently as a regulator without gagging any newspaper organisation.

“NPC is not as harmful as we used to think. Under my watch, we will not allow it to be harmful; we will ensure that it carries its functions in such a way and manner that press freedom is respected and guaranteed,” Mr Idris explained. “Also, under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the media will breathe. The president and all members of the Federal Executive Council, including me, have no intention whatsoever to gag the Nigerian press.”

Mr Idris added, “Indeed, the Nigerian press will flourish under the administration of President Tinubu and everything it requires for it to function, the enabling environment will be there more than ever before.”

The minister, however, said in enjoying its freedom, the media must also be aware of its responsibilities to the nation.

“Tinubu has no intention to gag the Nigerian press, but the freedom that the Nigerian press has also comes with responsibility. You cannot enjoy freedom and think that responsibility is no longer yours,” said Mr Idris. “Yes, there will be press freedom, but how do you exercise that press freedom? It is important and imperative for every government to ensure that the press is allowed to do its job.”

He added, “We have seen it in history that the more you try to test the press, the more problematic it becomes for you, and Nigeria has reached such an advanced stage in its democratisation process that no one would gag the press at this point.”

The minister explained that self-regulation by the media remains the best form of regulation.

He recalled that the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria had come up with the ombudsman to regulate the activities of its members.

“If that is done and deepened further, that regulation that the government was thinking about will probably not be necessary,” Mr Idris said.

(NAN)