President Bola Tinubu has urged the Nigerian media to refrain from giving terrorists and kidnappers publicity, saying criminal groups should not be allowed to use news platforms to spread fear or threaten national security.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday night while speaking at the inaugural State House Press Dinner held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President said journalists have a crucial responsibility to report accurately without becoming channels for criminal elements seeking to destabilise the country.
According to him, although Nigeria has continued to record progress in tackling insecurity through intensified military operations and improved intelligence gathering, the media must always place national interest above sensational reporting.
Tinubu stressed that his appeal was not an attempt to undermine press freedom but a call for responsible journalism.
“Freedom of expression and press freedom remain fundamental to democracy, but those freedoms come with responsibility. On issues affecting national security, Nigeria’s interest must always come first,” he said.
The President added that press freedom should not be interpreted as a licence to spread misinformation or publish content capable of eroding public trust.
He maintained that fairness, accuracy and professionalism remain the foundation of credible journalism.
Tinubu also raised concerns over the increasing spread of misinformation in the digital age, noting that the rapid circulation of false information has made the role of professional journalists more important than ever.
He urged media practitioners to prioritise facts over speculation and credibility over sensational headlines, insisting that journalism standards should not be compromised despite the growing influence of social media.
