Abuja, Nigeria — Vice-President Kashim Shettima delivered a strong message in support of the press during a meeting with leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Presidential Villa: the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu regards journalists as “the lifeline of the nation” and is committed to safeguarding press freedom. “We can’t afford to muzzle you,” he declared.
During the meeting, Shettima acknowledged the economic pressures facing media organisations, including salary obligations and digital disruption, and reaffirmed continued government support. He said the press plays a parallel role to the judiciary in holding power to account and that the administration will “promote, project and preserve the interests of the journalism profession.”
In response, the NUJ leadership commended the Vice-President’s assurances but reiterated their call for decriminalisation of libel, a national safety protocol for journalists and fiscal stimuli such as tax reliefs and soft loans for struggling media platforms. The engagement signals a renewed government-media dialogue, but observers note sustained commitment will be needed to reverse years of constraints on media independence in Nigeria.
