Vice President Kashim Shettima declared on Tuesday that a successful dictatorship is “impossible” in Nigeria. He assured the International Press Institute Nigeria conference that President Bola Tinubu’s administration respects and will protect freedom of expression. Shettima asserted that no government could effectively suppress the Nigerian media.
The Vice President emphasized the need for journalists to operate without harassment, stating the government’s duty to create an environment where truth thrives and media work is “protected, rather than policed.” He reiterated that suppressing the media permanently has never succeeded in Nigeria’s history.
Shettima identified “anarchists on social media” as the nation’s biggest threat, not mainstream journalism, advocating for government and press as partners. Information Minister Mohammed Idris reaffirmed the commitment to press freedom, citing stricter guidelines for security agencies. IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed urged an end to journalist repression.