President Bola Tinubu has cautioned Nigerian journalists that press freedom does not include the right to spread falsehoods or mislead the public.
Speaking on Thursday evening at the maiden State House Media Dinner held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the president urged media practitioners to prioritise accuracy, professionalism, and responsibility in their work, especially in an era dominated by social media and rapid information flow.
Tinubu, who described himself as a longtime champion of media freedom, reminded the gathering that he has consistently defended press rights throughout his career. Yet he stressed that those rights come with serious duties.
“Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to deliberately mislead. Rights come with responsibilities,” the president said.
He expressed worry about the rise of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and AI-generated deepfakes, warning journalists not to become “willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information injurious to national security and the nation.”
The president called on the media to focus on facts rather than sensation, substance over clickbait, and credibility instead of chasing likes and viral outrage.
In today’s world, where almost anyone with a smartphone can act as a journalist, he said the role of trained professionals in separating truth from rumour has never been more important.
Tinubu described the relationship between government and the media as a partnership in nation-building, even if it involves healthy democratic tension. “We are adversaries only in the democratic sense… In nation-building, we are partners,” he noted.
He also defended measures like the Cybercrimes Act, saying they aim to protect citizens and maintain the integrity of the information space rather than suppress legitimate journalism.
The event, which also saw the president decorated as Grand Patron of the State House Press Corps, came as his administration continues to face both praise for economic reforms and criticism over various national challenges.
Journalists and media stakeholders have long emphasised the importance of a free press in holding power accountable, while successive governments have called for balance and responsibility.
Tinubu’s remarks appear to strike that familiar balance, reaffirming support for media freedom while drawing clear lines against what he sees as abuse.