Malami Cautions Journalists Against Reportage That Threatens Nigeria’s Existence

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN said on Thursday, that Nigeria could suffer destabilization as a result of negative reportage by journalists.

Malami explained this while giving his keynote address during the policy dialogue on protection of journalists which held at the Treasure Suites and Conferences, Abuja.

The event was in commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

According to a UNESCO report, about 44 journalists were murdered in 2021.

The AGF said that though the federal government was committed to the safety of Nigerian journalists, he warned against publishing fake news.

He added that journalists were not in any way targeted for witch-hunt by the federal government.

“The Federal government has provided an enabling environment for journalism to thrive. I call on journalists to refrain from fake news, defamation, sedition, hate speech, blasphemy, incitement, inflammatory statements in their reportage that could jeopardize our cooperate existence as a nation and hamper the peace we have been enjoying. National interest built on corporate existence needs to bind our patriotic engagement in advancing the interest of the nation,” he said.

Taking the lead presentation, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gombe, Professor Umaru Pate, advised reporters to first consider their safety in their bid to get the news out.

He also urged media owners to design a safety protocol for their reporters, adding that “ for us as journalists, we have to be alive to frame the story.”

But the don pointed out that the crimes against journalists were not necessarily institutional or designed by government but can be as a result of other factors like kidnapping, terrorism among other things.

Pate said that one of the bodies that provides protection for reporters is the judiciary.

He therefore advocated for a strong justice system in the country, as a preventive tool against impunity in Nigeria.

“Crimes against journalists, many times, go unpunished in this country,” he added.

The event was graced by European Union delegation, judges, journalist, scholars and a media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina.

According to Adesina, “ the president will not support impunity in any form”