The Society for Journalism Enhancement Initiative has urged African governments to stop justifying restrictions on the media in the name of national security.
The group’s convener, Gbemiga Bamidele, made the call on Saturday on occasion of the World Press Freedom Day.
Bamidele said limiting press freedom in the name of security was counterproductive, arguing that “a restricted press does not enhance security, it conceals insecurity.”
He said governments across Africa, including Nigeria, often crack down on journalists covering protests or conflicts, attempt to regulate digital platforms and frame critical reporting as a threat to state stability. According to him, a free press serves as an early warning system, exposes governance failures and builds public trust through transparency.“Security built on secrecy is fragile; security built on truth is sustainable,” Bamidele said.
He added that African countries should move beyond viewing press freedom as a Western construct and embrace it as a local necessity tied to development and stability.
Bamidele said the 2026 theme, “Shaping a Future of Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security,” underscored the role of journalism as a stabilising pillar of democratic life under the leadership of UNESCO.
He said sustainable peace in Africa required justice, inclusion and informed public discourse, all of which depend on a free and responsible press.In Nigeria, he said, recurring challenges such as communal clashes, insurgency and political tensions highlight the need for conflict-sensitive journalism capable of countering misinformation and promoting dialogue.
He warned that journalists often operate under fear of arrest, intimidation and censorship, undermining their role in promoting accountability. Bamidele said press freedom was inseparable from human rights, enabling citizens to hold power to account and exposing corruption, electoral irregularities and abuses by state and non-state actors.
He said that organisations such as Media Rights Agenda and International Press Centre continue to push for transparency and accountability, using the annual observance as a platform for engagement.
Bamidele said persistent challenges remain, including the use of cybercrime and security laws to detain journalists, limited access to public information and weak enforcement of legal protections.
He added that a free press also drives development by investigating corruption, highlighting gaps in public services and amplifying marginalised voices.