PUO Reports — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the National Assembly, the media, and other critical stakeholders in the ongoing review of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act.
This assurance was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, shortly after a closed-door meeting with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills.
In a statement released by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, the engagement focused on key democratic values such as press freedom, freedom of expression, and Nigeria’s evolving digital policy framework.
Commenting on the proposed review of the Cybercrime Act, the Minister 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.”
Minister Idris reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s unwavering stance on safeguarding press freedom, which he described as fundamental to 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.
He added:
“There is no democratic experience that can succeed without the Fourth Estate of the Realm.”
While maintaining the government’s support for a free and independent media, Idris also emphasized the need for responsible journalism anchored on national interest and professionalism.
“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.”
To address the rising challenges posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry will intensify its efforts on media and information literacy as part of a broader national strategy.
Responding to the Minister’s remarks, Ambassador Richard Mills commended the Federal Government for its commitment to press freedom, particularly in view of the planned legislative reforms.
“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 stated.
He continued:
“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.”
Tuesday’s meeting marked the second high-level engagement between Ambassador Mills and Minister Idris, highlighting the strategic collaboration between both governments in advancing press freedom and digital rights in Nigeria.
