Smarting from the awe of the attacks by Boko Haram on the media in Nigeria, journalists, yet joined the rest of the world Thursday to celebrate the World Freedom Day. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which organised parts of the celebration, emphasised that free press is a critical tool for the positive transformation of the society.
In a statement Thursday, the Acting Deputy Director of the Commission, Lambert Oparah, said: “The role of the media cannot be over emphasised. Apart from the primary role of educating, informing, enlightening and entertaining, the media remains an agent of positive change.
“The press can assist in strengthening and deepening our democracy through promoting transparency, accountability, good governance, human rights and rule of law. With the Freedom of information Act (FOIA) in place, we believe that a lot can be achieved through the media.”
The commission noted that freedom of expression is a fundamental right which is guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that democracy and free press are complementary to each other. It noted that without press freedom, democracy is heavily impaired and incapacitated.
“Democracy itself provides the right atmosphere for freedom of expression, a fundamental right of all.
“From the foregoing, it is quite clear press freedom is a non-negotiable instrument for good governance and therefore a sine qua non for economic, social, and political development of the nation,” it stated.
This year, the World Press Freedom Day is coming at a time when journalists in Nigeria are facing serious challenges. The bombing of THISDAY offices in Abuja and Kaduna as well as the office of The Sun and Moment Newspapers and even the threat to bomb more media houses has raised the tension in the industry. Some critics have said the attack is aimed at gagging the press in a way that it will now be scared of saying it all, just as it is. Coming barely a week after the attacks therefore, the World Press Freedom Day is thus seen as a morale booster to encourage the media practitioners not to be cowed, deterred or intimidated by the attack.
NHRC described the attacks as affront on press freedom and a draw back to the gains of democracy in the country.
It advised that “the media must however not be intimidated. They must continue to play their traditional role of informing, educating and entertaining Nigerians.
“We salute the Nigerian press for resilience in the face of daunting challenges and also call on all to support the promotion and protection of press freedom,” the statement said.
Also condemning the attack on the media houses, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador David MacRae, at a media luncheon to mark the 2012 World Press Freedom Day harped on the necessity of journalists to be free enough to discharge their duties independently without fear of violence or repression.
He applauded the courage of the Nigerian media who have chosen to remain “focused in the face of the unprovoked and unwarranted aggression by the marauding forces of evil. The resilience demonstrated by the media should inspire others in these dire times”.
He charged the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators of these acts of violence are brought to justice.
He disclosed that the EU was working with the Federal Government on various agreements including security; details of which he noted could not be disclosed to the public.
In the same vein, the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday advocated compulsory insurance cover for journalists both in public and private sectors as a way of ensuring their security and a cover should any harm befall them.
In a goodwill message issued in Ilorin, Ahmed said only a free press could ensure growth and development and sustenance of democracy.
He urged state governments to support the media in attaining a free society.
Ahmed commended Nigerian journalists for their uprightness and commitment to the promotion and entrenchment of democratic ethos in the country.
The governor noted that journalists remained reliable allies not only in the emergence of Nigerian independence but also in the sustenance of the Nigerian state.
Ahmed advised journalists to remain undaunted even in the face of recent security challenges and to also maintain the highest level of professional ethics.
Speaking on the misperception about the trade regulations by the EU, Ambassador MacRae also dismissed insinuations that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is a ploy to allow unrestricted entry of Europeans into the West African markets.
EPA is not an attempt to destroy the region’s nascent industries but rather to help develop industries and thus generate employment opportunities.
“There have been concerns that all we are doing is to open up the West African markets without restriction and undermine efforts by the region to develop its manufacturing sector. We want to offer the best trade advantages that we have, we are not talking about an economic free for all,” he said.
The envoy added that the EPA is compliant with the dictates of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and would be utilised by Europe to assist ECOWAS promote regional integration.
Stressing the imperativeness of electricity, MacRae said: “it is high time the power sector is transformed, we are looking forward to seeing what the EU can offer the Federal Government and individual states in that aspect. Power is a fundamental requisite if the economy would be accelerated.”
Thisday
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