The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has urged the media to remain vigilant in defending Nigeria’s 24-year history of uninterrupted democracy.
Speaking during a visit from the executive council of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Idris emphasized the essential role of the press in safeguarding democratic values as the country continues to navigate critical junctures in its political journey.
The NGE leadership met with Idris to brief him on preparations for the 20th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), which will be held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from November 6-9, 2024.
“Nigeria’s democratic journey was hard fought for by all, with the media playing a leading role in the struggle against military dictatorship,” Idris stated.
“Twenty-four years after, the media shouldn’t be seen as losing guard at this critical juncture. It must sustain and reinforce its time-honoured support for democracy.”
Idris reassured the NGE executives, led by President Eze Anaba, of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to democratic principles, particularly press freedom.
He further emphasized that the media is expected to be a beacon in promoting peace, unity, and national security through its coverage of national issues.
The minister also noted that the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda is fully underway, and he appealed to the media to project optimism about Nigeria’s socio-economic trajectory, acknowledging that growth brings initial challenges.
He announced government plans to support the media with measures such as single-digit loans through the Bank of Industry to ease operational costs, particularly in mitigating the high cost of newsprint.
In his remarks, NGE President Anaba highlighted the significance of the upcoming ANEC in Bayelsa, with the theme “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country.”
Anaba described the conference as a timely forum for exploring solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges in line with current realities.