…a government that is genuinely committed to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption; the protection of the rule of law and the institutionalisation of democratic values, especially through the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, will not be dismantling the civic space in the manner we are witnessing. Is there more to this than meets the eye?

Introduction

As I transferred my thoughts into this speaking note, it suddenly occurred to me that we are probably not sufficiently grappling with the depth of the precarious state of press freedom and freedom of expression, and the ominous darkening clouds over the civic space in Nigeria.

I even think I am guilty!

Yes, we document incidents of attacks on journalists and the media, including arson and killing – and they are numerous as we shall see. Yes, our facts and figures contributed to a situation where, for instance, Reporters San Frontiers (otherwise called Reporters Without Borders) rated Nigeria 115 out of 180 countries in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index.

Yes, we’ve been kicking – as we should – against what I have personally chosen to call attempts at ‘legal’ or ‘legislative’ coups against press freedom and freedom of expression, for example, by way of the bills seeking amendments to the National Broadcasting Act (2010) and the Nigeria Press Council Act (1992), and also the Electoral Act (2010) Amendment Bill. Yes, we do all these.

Originally published in Chronicle