The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone B has called for more policies to protect Nigerian journalists against all forms of attacks.

Ronke Samo, vice president of the zone, made the call in a statement to mark 2022 World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti,” said Ms Samo. “We equally urge the state to urgently formulate policies and put in place frameworks that would protect the dress from the emerging threat from advancement in digital technology.”

She added, “This should be done in a most patriotic manner because of the fact that a truly free press will bring progress, fairness, justice and true freedom for our society.” 

Ms Samo noted that this year’s celebration of the WPFD tagged ‘Journalism under digital siege’ was very relevant and timely as hostile policies, maltreatment, poor remuneration and assassination against journalists needed to be tackled head-on.

She saluted journalists worldwide and, more importantly, in Nigeria for remaining resolute, hard working and undaunted in the face of challenges confronting the profession.

The NUJ boss said findings by reliable monitoring bodies ranked Nigeria among nations that presented a hostile environment for reporting.

She urged journalists not to relent in their efforts to ensure that the society was properly, truthfully and broadly informed most professionally, despite the hostility and threatening environment.

“Today marks the celebration of our struggle for the freedom of the press, and we must rejoice, even in the face of daunting challenges,” stressed the NUJ official. “This is because we have actually been winning the war against several attempts and actions by the hostile stakeholders to gag the press.”

(NAN)