The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working with the National Assembly, the media, and other key stakeholders on the ongoing review of the Cybercrime Act.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills, at his office in Abuja on Wednesday, Idris emphasized that the objective is to produce a revised law that reflects widespread consensus and is broadly acceptable.
He stated: “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 further reiterated the Tinubu administration’s dedication to preserving press freedom and freedom of expression, describing them as essential to the country’s democratic process.
“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.
“There is no democratic experience that can succeed without the Fourth Estate of the Realm,” he said.
While urging the media to remain committed to responsible journalism, Idris called for patriotic reporting in order to strengthen democratic values.
“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 added.
Idris also pledged the ministry’s continued efforts to promote Media and Information Literacy as a strategy to combat fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
Ambassador Mills, in his remarks, described the conversation with the Minister as productive, especially on issues surrounding press freedom and the ministry’s anticipated role in the Cybercrime Act review.
“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 important role in that reforms in the National Assembly.”
This meeting marked the second formal engagement between the U.S. Ambassador and the Minister on matters concerning press freedom in Nigeria.