The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for urgent action and zero tolerance toward attacks on journalists and media organisations, warning that threats to press freedom pose a serious risk to democracy in Nigeria.
The call was made by the commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ojukwu stressed that a free and independent press remains essential to democratic governance, noting that press freedom is closely tied to accountability, transparency, and active citizen participation.
“A free press is the lifeblood of any thriving democracy,” he said, adding that societies where journalists can operate without fear are better positioned to uphold human rights and democratic values.
The NHRC boss emphasised that press freedom is not a privilege but a fundamental right guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as under regional and international human rights frameworks to which Nigeria is a signatory.
He warned that attacks on journalists ranging from intimidation and arbitrary arrests to physical assaults and online harassment amount to direct assaults on democracy and undermine the public’s right to access information.
