Nigeria
Nigerian press commended for democratisation role

afrol News, 27 January - Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has commended the Nigerian press for its "continued support to the growth of democracy in Nigeria." The national press had "defended" democracy since introduced in 1999.

The Nigerian Minister made the commendation when the Counsellor for Public Affairs of the US Embassy in Nigeria, Mrs Claudia Anyaso paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, according to a release by the Ministry. 

Professor Gana, who described the Nigerian press as "defenders of democracy," assured that Nigeria's federal government would "continue to maintain excellent relationship with the media for the sustenance of democracy in the country." He said government would also continue to ensure freedom of press and respect for human dignity as a necessary ingredient for the development of democracy in Nigeria.

The Minister however also had an appeal to the Western Media operating in Nigeria. He especially urged the Hausa services of Voice of America (VOA) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to "cooperate with the Nigerian government by giving good report about the country" and said fair report would "help in the growth of democracy in Nigeria."

Free flow of US-Nigerian information
Minister Gana further urged the visiting US counsellor to maintain good working relationship with his Ministry and agencies under it for the free flow of Information between Nigeria and US. He said his administration acted by a "belief to make information accessible to all Nigerians." His Ministry had in recent time embarked on the rehabilitation of government owned media houses and construction of new ones across the country. 

Speaking earlier, US Counsellor Anyaso said she was in the Ministry to pledge her offices resolve to establish good working relationship with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and agencies under it for the free flow of information. She also promised to use her office to attract assistance from US to the federal government for the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

Limited press freedom
Although President Olusegun Obasanjo, in power since 1999, has being liberalising Nigeria, civil rights groups do not agree that the human rights situation has improved as much as it should. Violent conflict in the north of the country and several repressive state governments have impeded a positive development during the last years.

The Paris-based media watchdogs Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) conclude that the ongoing ethnic violence has had serious repercussions on the press and several reporters have been attacked during the last years. Attacks were mostly from private Nigerians disagreeing with press coverage or from state police officers. The federal government was however not criticised, except for being too passive in challenging repressive states. 

Sources: Based on Nigerian govt, RSF and afrol archives

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