We’ll encourage responsible journalism not gag press

President Bola Tinubu will continue to encourage the practice of responsible journalism and not gag the press in the country.

Malam Mohammad Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing State House Correspondents.

He said that a free and vibrant media practice and social media was significant to the success of the administration and the promotion of nationalism and patriotism.

‘’Mr President and all of us in that sector are committed to ensuring that there’s press freedom. That freedom, like I said, comes with responsibility. A lot of things that some of these people on social media are doing are also not very patriotic.

‘’Sometimes you say news that is not factual. But I don’t want a situation where it will be seen that the government is trying to gag the press. I want that to be underscored.

‘’There is no attempt by the government to gag the press. We’re going to do whatever it takes that is responsible and also accountable. Responsible journalism is the way to go.

‘’The president values the freedom of the press and will continue to engage it at all times,’’ he said.

The minister said that the administration would engage in national reorientation of citizens in order to achieve its objectives of value reorientation and inclusiveness.

‘’Mr President has given me a matching order to see that Nigerians believe in this country once again. We’re coming up with national discourse on orientation or reorientation. So that Nigerians can believe in their country.

You know that people don’t even believe in leaders that they elected. Flags are not flying anymore. You go to government offices overseas, you don’t even see the symbol of our collective existence, flying even in public buildings.

On the welfare of the media practitioners in the country, Idris said that there are on-going consultations on improving the standard of living of journalists, adding that the president has been supportive in this direction.

Idris said, ‘’It is in the works. I have discussed that with Mr President. He wants to see me come up with a roadmap for that. We are going to work on that and in due course you will get definite answers.

‘’The welfare of journalists will continue to be on the front burner because we believe in the freedom of the press and anything that will promote this freedom will be given priority.’’

Idris said that the government would also take a look at suggestions to sanitise the press in the country without encumbering them in any way.

He added, ‘’Well, that is being looked at. You know that Mr President believes in press freedom. He believes in the freedom of expression, and he’s not going to gag the press in any way, shape or form.

‘’He is going to work assiduously to ensure that the Nigerian press that has been free is even freer.

‘’But like I have been saying all the time, this freedom also comes with enormous responsibility.

‘’You can’t just say what is not right, because you’re enjoying press freedom.’’

Breaking: ASUU suspends 2-week warning strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has suspended its two-week warning strike it declared last week across all public universities in the country. The union announced the suspension on Wednesday at a press conference held at its headquarters in Abuja. President of ASUU, Chris Piwuna, who read a prepared speech before newsmen, explained that the development followed intervention by the Senate and some other well-meaning Nigerians. However, he sad the National Executive Council of the Union resolved to give the government a one-month window to address all contending areas.

JUST IN: If Tinubu Had Told Me, I Wouldn’t Have Agreed To Rivers State Of Emergency Rule – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he would not have agreed with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if he had discussed his move to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State. Wike noted that he is not in conflict with the suspended Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara He stressed his opposition on the State of Emergency rule, stating that only the President knows the right time to lift it. While speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Wike remarked that Fubara has permitted himself to be manipulated by his adversaries to oppose him. The FCT Minister said: “ I made it clear that this impunity will not stand, so what is happening in PDP is what I call undertakers because I see no reason why you will put yourself under that kind of crisis. “I don’t have any crisis with him (Fubara). I’m not the President who declared a State of Emergency; if Mr President had called me, I wouldn’t have agreed to the State of Emergenc...

Woman Burned to Death, Accused of Kidnapping 7yrs Old Boy in Delta

By Tessy ogbemi An angry mob set ablaze a woman accused in a failed child kidnapping attempt in Agbarho community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The incident happened on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. An eyewitness disclosed at the scene of the incident at Ekwvere Road claimed that the woman hid the seven year old boy she allegedly abducted in a sack, adding that she was even carrying a Bible on one hand. Community sources said some residents in the area accosted the lady when they observed the way she was dragging the sack, to know what she had in it. "She was unstable when they asked her to disclose what she was carrying in the sack. When the bag was forced open, they found a seven year old child in it. They shouted and it attracted a large crowd,” a source said. It was gathered that the angry mob immediately brought a used tyre to the scene, which they forced down her neck after beating her to a pulp. “The lady and the tyre we...

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