As Nigerians join the rest of the world to mark the 2017 World Press Freedom Day, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garba Abari has charged the Nigerian press to exercise its freedom with a sense of responsibility, stressing that freedom without responsibility leads to anarchy.…
In a goodwill message, Abari observed that the Nigerian press has come a long way in making valuable contributions to national development but was concerned with the rising trend of fake news in both conventional and social media, misinforming the public and generating undue tensions.
He therefore urged the Nigerian press to use the opportunity of the 2017 World Press Freedom Day to raise public awareness on the dangers of irresponsible use of the press which has led to conflicts in some of our communities and sometimes has lured youths to irresponsible behaviour. He also called on the press to deploy its massive powers to promote the core values of our nation as outlined in Chapter 2, Section 23 of the 1999 Constitution, which include Discipline, Integrity, Patriotism, Dignity of Labour, Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Religious Tolerance.
Abari condemned the non-payment of journalists’ salaries and wages in some media organizations, saying that in itself is an infringement on press freedom.