Arewa Media Summit: Information Minister says Tinubu never suppressed media

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu has never suppressed the media, insisting that it remains committed to protecting press freedom as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

Mr Idris stated this on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the Arewa Media Summit 2026 in Kano, themed “Government-Citizen Accord: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”

He said the Tinubu administration recognises that a free, responsible and independent press is indispensable to good governance, transparency and public accountability.

According to the minister, the government’s commitment is reflected in its sustained engagement with media stakeholders and efforts to create an enabling environment for journalists to carry out their duties without undue interference.

“The administration of President Bola Tinubu has remained firmly committed to upholding press freedom as a fundamental pillar of constitutional democracy,” Idris said.

“Our commitment is reflected in our continuous engagement with media stakeholders, our determination to foster an enabling environment in which journalists can carry out their professional responsibilities without undue interference, and our resolve to deepen constructive dialogue between government and the media.”

He urged journalists to continue holding government accountable in line with their constitutional responsibility, stressing that accountability must be rooted in facts, context and fairness.

“Accountability is strongest when it is anchored on facts, context and fairness,” he said.

Mr Idris also challenged media organisations in Northern Nigeria to give greater prominence to the achievements of the Tinubu administration in the region.

Speaking at the summit, the convener and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said the event was organised to reinforce the administration’s commitment to free speech, dialogue and democratic governance.

He explained that the summit was designed to examine the often-contentious relationship between government and citizens in a democracy while providing a platform for stakeholders across Northern Nigeria’s media and information ecosystem to exchange ideas.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a veteran of the democratic struggle, is an avowed believer in plurality of opinion and the guaranteed right to free expression and dialogue,” Abdulaziz said.

He added that participants at the summit reflected the diversity of Northern Nigeria, with representatives drawn from all states in the region.

Mr Abdulaziz also expressed concern over the growing influence of social media, describing influencers as the “new gatekeepers” of information whose actions could either strengthen or undermine national cohesion.

“We cannot discuss ethics today without naming the new gatekeepers: social media influencers. They command attention our newsrooms once held alone, and with that reach comes responsibility.

“A viral post can mobilise hope, but it can also spread anger before facts are verified. As 2027 approaches, the line between free expression and reckless amplification becomes thinner. Influencers must see themselves as custodians of public peace, not just content creators.

“Fact-check before you post. Correct mistakes openly. We must never allow the urge to trend to cost us our country,” he said.

He added that improving public access to information and sustaining dialogue between government and citizens remained critical to closing information gaps and combating misinformation.

Declaring the summit open, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom.

The governor said the state government had prioritised effective public communication and had developed an information policy through the Ministry of Information to strengthen communication and information management across the state.