The Federal Government has restated its readiness to collaborate with the National Assembly, the media, and other critical stakeholders in the ongoing review of the Cybercrime Act.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, following a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills.
According to a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, the engagement which held at the Minister’s office centred on democratic freedoms, press rights, and the evolving digital regulatory framework in Nigeria.
“On the suggestion about the ongoing review of the Cybercrime Act, we will have our input there by working with the National Assembly, other stakeholders, the media and everyone, to ensure that we have an Act that is acceptable by all and that also serves its purpose,”;; the Minister said.
Idris reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression and press freedom, describing both as essential pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.
“I have shared my thoughts with the Ambassador and I also reiterated the government’s commitment to continue to uphold freedom of expression and not to limit the space for journalists to do their work. We will continue to uphold that. We believe that journalism and the media are all integral part of democracy,”;; he said.
“There is no democratic experience that can succeed without the Fourth Estate of the Realm,”;; Idris added.
While emphasizing government support for a free press, the Minister also urged journalists to remain guided by national interest and responsible reporting.
“We also want to seize this opportunity to encourage members of the Nigerian Media that while observing press freedom, they should ensure that there is enormous responsibility in the discharge of their duties. They should continue to be more responsible and of course, they have been, but we urge them to continue to promote responsible journalism and also to be patriotic because that’s the only way that democracy can thrive,”;; he stated.
To strengthen responsible media practices further, Idris said the Ministry will continue to promote media and information literacy to address the growing challenge of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
In his remarks, U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills described the discussions as productive and praised the Minister for his expressed commitment to protecting press freedom, particularly in light of the upcoming review of the Cybercrime Act.
“I have just had a very good private discussion with the Minister regarding freedom of the press here in Nigeria and his commitment to that space for expression and for freedom of the press and I welcomed his statement on May 3rd on World Press Freedom Day that reiterated his government’s commitment to the freedom of the press,”;; Mills said.
“We also discussed upcoming consideration of reforms to the Cybercrime Act and my encouragement that the Ministry of Information plays an important role in that reforms in the National Assembly,”;; he added.
The meeting was the second official engagement between Ambassador Mills and Minister Idris on issues relating to press freedom in Nigeria.
