Africa (Commonwealth Union)_ Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to upholding press freedom in Nigeria. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Thursday, Idris emphasized that the Nigerian government does not engage in the intimidation or harassment of the media. He urged both international and local media outlets to maintain fairness, accuracy, and objectivity in their reporting on Nigeria.
The minister called on the international media to portray a balanced view of the country, noting that while Nigeria faces its share of challenges, it also has numerous positive developments that deserve attention. “It’s not only bad things that come out of Nigeria; there are a lot of good things,” Idris stated, encouraging the BBC to showcase the country’s progress alongside its challenges.
Idris expressed satisfaction with the BBC’s operations in Nigeria, particularly commending the relocation of the Hausa Service studio from London to Abuja. He highlighted that this move has resulted in the employment of about 200 Nigerians across the country. He also praised the BBC for its longstanding relationship with the Nigerian audience, which has fostered trust and mutual respect over several decades.
Moreover, Idris lauded the BBC for its capacity-building initiatives, particularly for journalists in public media organizations. He appealed for similar support to be extended to private media outlets to enhance the overall quality of journalism in Nigeria.
In his response, Jonathan Munro, the Director of Global News and Deputy CEO of the BBC, expressed his delight at the BBC’s strong reputation in Nigeria. Munro, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, acknowledged the country’s importance to the BBC, noting that approximately 30 million people access BBC news services in Nigeria weekly. This makes Nigeria the BBC’s third-largest international audience, following the United States and India.
Munro also highlighted the BBC’s expansion into multimedia platforms in Nigeria, offering content in Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, thereby reaching the country’s diverse audience. He recognized Nigeria as a global power and expressed the BBC’s commitment to continuing its partnership with the Nigerian people.
The meeting underscored the Nigerian government’s commitment to media freedom and its expectation for balanced, accurate reporting that reflects the full spectrum of the nation’s experiences.
