Press Freedom Violations: AMDF Ranking Paints A Dark Portrait On The Canvass Of Nigeria Media

• Press freedom, is it a right or a privilege that the government or the authorities can have rights to allow violations on or not?

• In Nigeria, press freedom violations have become a common trope that the authorities somehow have justified.

• This gives the country a ranking made by AMDF to classify Nigeria as the highest violator of press freedom.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Nigeria has been named as the African country with the highest number of press freedom violations, according to the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF).

The announcement was made by the foundation’s Senior Program Officer on Press Freedom, Joy Gadani, in a statement issued to mark the 2023 World Press Freedom Day. Gadani said that Nigeria had recorded the highest incidences of violations, particularly in relation to the country’s February/March elections.

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The statement highlighted that the past 30 years have witnessed significant progress in media development worldwide, including the widespread acceptance of independent media, digitization of media platforms, and increased access to information. However, the media industry continues to face challenges, with journalists and media workers frequently being subjected to attacks and violations of their rights.

In Africa, issues such as poor remuneration of journalists, government interference, and outright suppression continue to hamper the practice of journalism, according to Gadani.

The statement noted that journalists are frequently targeted by repressive governments, and that this trend has been particularly evident in Nigeria in 2023.

The statement called on the government to prioritize media safety, and urged philanthropists, corporate organizations, and media enthusiasts to support media development at all levels. It also emphasized the need for responsible citizen journalism and called on political office holders and security agencies to embrace the media as a partner in development.

Gadani paid tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the course of their work, as well as those who are currently facing jail terms, detention, or other forms of incarceration.

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The statement concluded by stating that the AMDF will continue to speak out against any act that violates press freedom in Africa.

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