In commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day on Sunday, May 3, 2026, civil society actors, media leaders and legal experts have called on the Federal Government to ensure press freedom, protect journalists and address the worsening insecurity and human rights violations across the country, urging decisive action to end impunity and ensure justice for victims.
The groups; the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, made the call at an interactive session, themed: “The Role of the Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria, held on Saturday in Lagos, to mark the day.
Participants advocated for Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteurs to undertake independent fact-finding missions in affected regions, noting that their findings should drive accountability measures, justice for victims and long-term structural reforms.
They also called on the National Assembly to invoke its constitutional oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 by convening an urgent public hearing on insecurity and attacks on journalists.
According to the stakeholders, such a hearing should scrutinise the role of security agencies and other state actors, while producing stronger legislative safeguards to protect media freedom and ensure accountability.
The group further appealed to the international community to increase pressure on Nigerian authorities to take concrete steps toward ending insecurity and impunity.
They emphasised the need to prioritise civilian protection, justice, accountability, and the preservation of civic space, including ensuring that media organisations operate without fear of reprisals.
SERAP and NGE emphasised that “protecting journalists and safeguarding information integrity are central drivers of peace, security, and democratic stability.”
The groups said, “any credible peace, recovery, or security strategy in Nigeria must integrate support for free, independent, and pluralistic media alongside humanitarian, institutional, and economic responses.”
The groups expressed “serious concerns about the scale and persistence of killings, abductions, sexual violence, forced displacement, and destruction of property across several parts of northern Nigeria.”
According to the groups, “thousands have reportedly been killed and millions displaced, with rural communities repeatedly targeted and women and children bearing the brunt of the violence and insecurity.”
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, warned that unchecked violence continues to devastate communities in the North. He said entire communities are being destroyed while perpetrators face little or no consequences, stressing that impunity fuels further violence.
Falana added that any government that fails to protect its citizens or hold offenders accountable risks eroding its legitimacy.
He underscored the role of journalists as critical partners in exposing abuses, preventing violence and strengthening democratic governance, rather than adversaries of the state.
Participants at the session unanimously expressed commitment to advancing the implementation of the recommendations through sustained engagement with relevant Nigerian authorities.
The event drew prominent figures from the media and civil society, including Richard Akinnola, Director, Media Law Centre; Eze Anaba, President, NGE and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Sumner Shagari Sambo, Director, News, Arise TV; Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Editor (Abuja), ThisDay; Dr Olufemi Adekoya, Editor, The Guardian; and Hamza Idris, Editor, Daily Trust.
Others in attendance included Godwin Ukaa, Deputy Director, News, VON; Paulyn Ugbodaga, Paulyn Ugbodaga, COO/Consultant, CBI Digital Media Limited; Joy Anigbogu, Political Editor, Daily Independent; Ijeoma Popoola, Deputy Director, NAN; and Oluwatosin Odusola, News Editor, Eko FM.
Also present were Zebulon Agomuo, Editor Sunday, Business Day; Emeka Madunagu, Editor Sunday, Business Day; Garba Alabi Kabir, Editor, The Guardian; ; Sylvester Ebhodaghe, Publisher, National Daily; and Iheanacho Nwosu, Editor, The Sun.
The list of attendees further included Peter Ekele, Editor in Chief, the Cabal; Charles Kalu, General Manager, Peoples FM; Ime Ufot, Group Executive Director, KAFTAN TV; Korede Ogunbunmi, HoD Journalism, Radio Nigeria; and Gabriel Akinadewo, MD/Editor in Chief, Freedom Online.
Additional participants were Tony Iyare, Fellow, NGE; Ugomma Cokey, Editor, VON; Mustapha Isah, Director of News, Silverbird; Daniel Badru, Assistant Editor, The Guardian; Don Okere, Editor, Daily Independent; and Rose Moses, Editor, News Mart, among others.
The session concluded with a shared resolve among stakeholders to sustain advocacy efforts aimed at restoring security, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and protecting fundamental human rights across Nigeria.
