Vice-President Kashim Shettima yesterday declared that no government in Nigeria can successfully silence the press, insisting that the country’s vibrant media landscape remains the strongest safeguard of its democracy.
Speaking at the 2025 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute, (IPI), Nigeria, held in Abuja, Shettima praised journalists for consistently defending citizens’ right to know, even in the face of intimidation and misinformation campaigns.
“Nigeria has one of the most vibrant media communities in the world,” he said. “Never in our history has any person or government succeeded in suppressing the media permanently. You have outlived those who attempted to place their boots upon your freedom”.
The Vice-President described media practitioners as “professional troublemakers” whose work shapes public understanding and shields democratic institutions from abuse. According to him, the press remains indispensable in holding leaders accountable and preventing the emergence of dictatorship.
Shettima commended the Nigerian media for resisting what he described as the rising tide of foreign information manipulation and interference.
He said the overwhelming majority of journalists have stood against falsehoods and refused to surrender their platforms to foreign actors intent on destabilising the country. “One of the proudest moments of contemporary journalism in Nigeria is the sincerity with which most of you confront disinformation,” he said. “You have refused to trade verified facts for viral fiction”.
While highlighting the press as a critical partner to government, Shettima acknowledged that the relationship between politicians and journalists often mirrors “the friendship of a cat and a mouse”. However, he stressed that both sides must work together in the national interest.
The Vice-President also used the platform to caution against unethical practices within the industry, noting that a few media actors fabricate stories and resist accountability. He urged professional bodies like IPI Nigeria to continue promoting standards that place verification above virality.
He pledged that the Tinubu administration remains committed to ensuring journalists operate without harassment, intimidation, or fear, saying freedom of expression is “non-negotiable.”
He assured journalists that the Government will continue to protect press freedom, because the alternative “is a country that serves none of us”.
