PPDC Urges President Tinubu to Address Media Assaults

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to tackle the increasing assault on the media, including the alarming rise in arrests and intimidation of journalists. The organization condemned the threats and censorship faced by media practitioners as unacceptable and absurd.

During the maiden media convening in Abuja, Lucy James Abagi, the Director of Partnerships and Innovation, urged the Nigerian government to cease using the Cybercrime Act to suppress the media and civic space. She highlighted the barbaric arrest and mistreatment of editor Segun Olatunji for exposing alleged corruption by the president's chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, warning that such actions threaten press freedom and undermine democracy.

Abagi also pointed out the recent detention of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu, held without charge for over a week after exposing corruption involving senior officials, as a stark reminder of the hostile environment for independent media. So far in 2024, over 34 cases of journalist arrests have been documented, raising concerns about the misuse of the Cybercrime Act.

PPDC CEO Jubril Shittu emphasized the essential role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability, calling on the government to protect journalists and allow them to operate without fear. The event included a panel discussion on resilient reporting, where speakers shared insights on navigating hostile environments to uphold journalistic integrity.

The PPDC reiterated its commitment to standing in solidarity with journalists and media organizations facing threats, urging the government to ensure press freedom and the safety of journalists who uncover the truth.