* Warns media against misinformation, deepfakes
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, declared that his administration has moved beyond merely reacting to security threats to systematically degrading terrorists and criminal networks across the country, even as he reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to press freedom and unrestricted access for journalists covering the Presidency.
Speaking at the maiden State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President said his government had intensified military operations, strengthened intelligence gathering, improved inter-agency collaboration and expanded regional and international partnerships to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other forms of criminality.
“While Nigeria continues to face security challenges, we have moved steadily from reacting to threats toward systematically degrading them. We remain resolute in our commitment to securing every part of our country and ensuring that every Nigerian can live, work, and prosper in peace,” Tinubu said.
He disclosed that thousands of terrorists and other criminal elements had been neutralised, numerous hostages rescued and several communities reclaimed through sustained security operations.
The President commended the courage and professionalism of the nation’s security agencies, saying they had continued to record successes across various theatres of operation.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and press freedom, assuring journalists that his government would continue to provide them with the access, resources and freedom required to perform their constitutional duties.
“I am an apostle of a free press. I have defended and advocated for the rights of the media throughout my public life and will continue to do so,” he said.
The President thanked journalists covering the State House for their dedication to informing Nigerians about the activities of his administration.
“I appreciate all of you here for your tireless efforts in covering the State House. I appreciate your dedication to ensuring Nigerians are informed about my government’s activities,” he said.
While reaffirming his support for press freedom, Tinubu reminded journalists that rights come with responsibilities, stressing that democracy flourishes only when the media reports accurately, fairly and professionally.
He warned against the growing menace of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, deepfakes and voice and facial cloning, urging media practitioners not to become willing couriers of falsehood or unverified reports capable of undermining national security.
The President said freedom of expression should never be interpreted as freedom to defame, just as press freedom should not be used to deliberately mislead the public.
According to him, public trust can only be sustained through fairness, professionalism, integrity and accuracy.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria has enacted laws, including the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant legislation, to protect citizens from malicious falsehoods, cyberstalking, identity theft and other abuses associated with the digital age, stressing that such safeguards are meant to protect citizens and preserve the integrity of the country’s information ecosystem rather than weaken press freedom.
Describing the relationship between government and the media, the President said both institutions were “adversaries” only in the democratic sense but remained partners in nation-building.
He explained that while government exists to serve the people through leadership, policy and public service, the media exists to hold those in power accountable by asking difficult questions.
“Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain. The media must question,” he said, adding that the resulting tension was healthy for democracy.
Injecting humour into his remarks, Tinubu said he sometimes wondered whether the media liked or disliked him, recalling how one day’s headline praised his economic management while another, barely 24 hours later, declared that he had lost control of the economy.
He questioned whether sufficient context and analysis were always provided to explain such dramatic shifts, warning against sensationalism and the tendency to embrace the philosophy that “if it bleeds, it leads.”
Reflecting on his political journey, Tinubu said he had become one of the most analysed, scrutinised and speculated-upon politicians in Nigeria’s democratic history, particularly during the election season when rumours often became accepted as facts before eventually being disproved by the electorate.
He urged journalists to choose facts over falsehood, substance over sensation and credibility over clickbait and the pursuit of viral outrage.
The President also used the occasion to highlight the progress of his administration’s economic reforms, saying the difficult but necessary decisions taken since assuming office were beginning to produce positive results.
According to him, the economy is stabilising, public revenues have increased significantly, state governments are receiving substantially higher allocations, investor confidence is returning, foreign reserves have improved, fresh investments are flowing into the oil and gas sector and the stock market has recorded remarkable growth.
He added that tax reforms, fiscal reforms, infrastructure development and improvements in the business environment were laying the foundation for a more competitive, productive and prosperous economy.
Although acknowledging that challenges remain, Tinubu maintained that the direction of the economy was clear and that the foundations for long-term growth had been firmly established.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, which guarantee press freedom and assign the media the responsibility of holding government accountable, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, which promotes transparency and public access to information.
He called for greater collaboration between government and the media, urging both sides to replace needless hostility with constructive engagement, sensationalism with professionalism and the pursuit of outrage with the pursuit of truth.
“Together, let us continue building a nation where truth matters, accountability thrives, democracy flourishes, and every Nigerian has reason to believe in the promise of our country,” he said.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, delivered goodwill messages highlighting Tinubu’s physical and structural achievements within the past three years.
In his welcome address, chairman of the State House Press Corps, Dr Emmanuel Anule, urged the President to sustain the cordial relationship that has existed between his administration and the media, particularly the State House Press Corps.
The colourful event was attended by the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, while several other state governors were represented.
The high point of the evening was the decoration of President Tinubu as the Grand Patron of the State House Press Corps.
Awards of honour were also presented to several distinguished Nigerians and members of the State House Press Corps, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji; Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
Others were Chairman of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony Elumelu; Chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper and former Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Segun Adeniyi; Mr Felix Onuah; Mr Nicholas Okechukwu; Chairman of the State House Press Corps, Dr Emmanuel Anule, and Alhaji Ladan Abubakar.
Tinubu expressed hope that the maiden State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner would become an enduring tradition celebrating the vital partnership between government and the media in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.