The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has said the President Bola Tinubu-led government is a stunt believer in press freedom, and has no intention to gag the media.
The minister made this submission on Wednesday to State House correspondents shortly after he briefed President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
According to him, even though the federal government has no intention to gag the press, it was not an excuse for Nigerians to use unpatriotic words online because freedom of the press comes with a certain level of responsibility.
Iddris said, ‘That is a very delicate line to toe. While the government, Mr. President and all of us in that sector are committed to ensuring press freedom. That freedom comes with responsibility…there is no attempt by the government to gag the press.”
Speaking further, about plans by the Nigerian Press Council to register journalists as a way to sanitise the profession, the minister said, “Well, that is being looked into; you know that Mr President believes in press freedom; he believes in the freedom of expression, and he’s not going to gag the press in any way, shape or form.
“He’s going to work assiduously to ensure that the Nigerian press that has been free is even freer. But this freedom also comes with enormous responsibility.
“You can’t just say what is not right because you’re enjoying press freedom. There will be freedom, responsible freedom.”
