Prof. Tonnie Iredia, former Director-General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), has said that the Nigerian media space is over-regulated, hindering the industry’s ability to achieve the freedom necessary for its effective operation.
In a keynote address yesterday (Wednesday, December 11) at the 2024 Annual Conference of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, held in Abuja, the FCT, with the theme “Democracy, Media Freedom, and the Imperative of Protecting the Nigerian Civic Space,” Iredia emphasised the distinction between freedom of speech and press freedom, asserting that the Nigerian media lacks the statutory freedom needed for proper journalism.
He explained that while freedom of speech exists, it does not equate to the mandatory freedom required for the press to function without constraints.
According to Iredia, the Nigerian media needs a legal framework that guarantees press freedom, separate from the general freedom of speech outlined in the constitution.
On the other hand, Malam Ali Muhammed Ali, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), offered a different perspective on the state of media freedom in Nigeria.
Insisting that Nigeria has made progress in terms of press freedom, especially compared to past periods marked by military rule, Ali added that the Nigerian media is largely free in today’s climate.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria’s boss, while freedom of speech is important and exists in Nigeria, it has, unfortunately, led to some irresponsibility in the media, particularly with the rise of digital and social media.
Ali noted that mainstream media, often relying on unverified content from social media, could be considered irresponsible at times.
He also responded to Iredia’s assertion regarding media over-regulation, stating that while it might appear that the media is over-regulated on paper, in practice, Nigerian media operates relatively freely, even violating some regulatory rules.
Ali highlighted the challenges of dissent within media organisations, citing the example of employees in both private and government-run media outlets who might find it difficult to criticise their employers or the government. (NAN).
