Executive Summary
This report on The State of Media Independence In Nigeria presents the findings of a survey of 120 practicing journalists across 29 media outlets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The survey was conducted by Safer-Media Initiative through the project “Strengthening Journalism – Independence, Capacity and Presence” being implemented under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (C-MEDIA) Project of the WSCIJ and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The general objective of this survey is to ascertain the current state of media independence in Nigeria with the FCT-Abuja as the study sample. Specifically, to: 1. Determine the degree to which journalists are harassed. 2. Ascertain the main actors responsible for the attack and harassment meted on journalist. 3. Establish the level of government or political powers interference in journalists' work. 4. Gauge the implementation and use of the Freedom of Information Act by journalists. 5. Establish the percentage of journalists who access public information using the FOI Act.
Key Findings
- 65% of respondents have been harassed in their day-to-day work as journalists.
- At least 4 out of 10 journalists were harassed, attacked or unlawfully detained more than once between 2017 and 2022. That's 42% of respondents.
- Security agents were responsible for 48% of harassment and attack meted on journalists, while politicians and their supporters were responsible for 23%. Police tops the detention of journalists (28%) followed by the (DSS 12%)
- 52% of respondents have been pressured by government, corporate agencies or political interest to shape report shared with the public to align with their interest.
- Access to public information through FOI Act is poor as only 32% of respondents have accessed public information using FOI requests.
- 63.16% out of the number of respondents who have made FOI request say the response was not timely.
Recommendations
This survey report has shown how the state of media independence in Nigeria has worsened. The current ranking of Nigeria in the 2022 Press Freedom Index has further compound the country's image in the global community. The need to reshape such a disturbing narrative is important as it's urgent. Every stakeholder must be committed to the building and sustaining of free press, because it's the key pillar upon which democracy stands. We insist that the rights of journalists must be respected at all times. While it's a fact that the security agencies have a responsibility to investigate criminality through a systematic and methodological process of information gathering, it's also important to note that journalists cannot be taken as criminal suspects for doing their legitimate work of news gathering and reporting. In doing their professional duty, they are guided by ethics, but where anyone feels offended by their reports and thinks their rights are violated; the court is the resort. Safer-Media Initiative recommends the survey report as a reference tool to relevant stakeholders responsible for initiatives to upscale and/or operationalise actions that enhance journalists' protection and their access to justice. The National Assembly especially, to urgently begin a process of strengthening the laws that do not only promote media freedom but also provide protection for journalists. The judiciary needs to do more by providing and sustaining a definite measure of defense for journalists doing their professional and constitutional duty. This will ensure that the media industry performs better and is considered as an independent monitor of power and a credible source of information for public good.
