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President Bola Tinubu has called on journalists in Nigeria to remain committed to professionalism, factual reporting and ethical journalism, describing responsible media practice as essential to sustaining democracy.

The President made the appeal on Thursday during the maiden Presidential Dinner organised for members of the State House Media Corps at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He described the media as an indispensable democratic institution that plays a key role alongside government in promoting accountability, stability and good governance.

Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to press freedom, assuring journalists that his administration would continue to respect and protect the constitutional rights of both media practitioners and citizens to freely express their opinions.

“I am an apostle of a free press. I have defended and advocated for the rights of the media throughout my public life and will continue to do so,” the President said.

Despite his support for free expression, Tinubu stressed that such freedoms must be exercised with a strong sense of responsibility, honesty and professionalism.

“Journalists and citizens must not forget the imperative of balancing rights with responsibility and the duty to report with care, accuracy and facts,” he stated.

The President expressed concern over the growing spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation, especially with the increasing use of artificial intelligence to generate deceptive content.

He cautioned journalists against becoming channels through which false or unverified information capable of threatening national security or eroding public confidence is circulated.

“Media practitioners should not be willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information injurious to national security and the nation,” Tinubu said.

According to the President, government and the media have distinct but complementary responsibilities that are both necessary for the survival of democracy.

“Government exists to serve the people through leadership and policy. The media exists to watch those entrusted with power, ask difficult questions and hold government accountable,” he said.

He maintained that constructive scrutiny by the media remains an important pillar of transparent and accountable governance.

“Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain.

“The media must question. That arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension,” he added.

Tinubu encouraged stronger cooperation between government officials and journalists, urging both sides to replace unnecessary confrontation with meaningful engagement.

“Let us replace needless hostility with constructive engagement. Let us replace sensationalism with professionalism and the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth,” he said.

Commenting on the influence of social media, the President observed that credible journalism has become increasingly important in an age dominated by instant information and digital platforms.

“The media must choose fact over falsehood, substance over sensation, credibility over clickbait and the endless race for followers, likes and viral outrage,” he stated.

He said the responsibility of professional journalists is to distinguish verified information from rumours, propaganda and speculation.

“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.

Tinubu also defended the Cybercrimes Act, insisting that its purpose is to safeguard citizens and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s digital information space rather than suppress press freedom.

He referred to constitutional provisions that guarantee freedom of expression while assigning the media its watchdog responsibility over government activities.

“Section 39 guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression, while Section 22 places upon the media the noble responsibility of holding government accountable,” he noted.

Turning to the economy, the President said recent reforms implemented by his administration are beginning to produce encouraging outcomes.

“Our economy is stabilising. Public revenues have strengthened significantly. Investor confidence is returning and key economic indicators are moving in the right direction,” Tinubu said.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve security across the country, stating that security agencies have intensified operations against criminal groups while reclaiming communities previously affected by violence.

“Military operations have intensified, intelligence gathering has improved, inter-agency collaboration has strengthened and communities previously under threat have been reclaimed,” he said.

The President expressed optimism that the annual State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner would become a lasting platform for strengthening dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding between the Presidency and the media.

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