THE International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria Chapter, has raised serious concern over the rising wave of media repression and harassment of journalists across the country, warning that the trend poses a grave threat to democracy and the free flow of information.
News Point Nigeria reports that the alarm was sounded by IPI Nigeria President and Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, during a dinner held in Abuja on Saturday to honour Hajia Hadiza Hussaina Sani, a respected journalist and retired Director of Digital Media at the Voice of Nigeria (VON), who clocked the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The event, attended by senior editors, media executives, government officials, and public communicators, celebrated Sani’s 34-year illustrious career, which spanned the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and VON, where she played a pioneering role in steering the agency into the digital era.
In his remarks, Mojeed decried the “disturbing” frequency of harassment faced by media practitioners in recent months, citing multiple incidents including the banning of a live political programme in Kano State, the eviction of Channels TV crew from the Akwa Ibom Government House press centre, and the arrests of journalists such as FIJ’s Sodiq Atanda in Ekiti State and Azuka Ogujiuba, a former ThisDay employee.
“Every single day you wake up, it is one form of harassment or the other against the media,” Mojeed lamented.
He called for continued advocacy to defend press freedom, noting that the media remains a cornerstone of democratic accountability. “Efforts to protect journalists’ rights and promote independent journalism are crucial in Nigeria’s media landscape,” he stressed.
Mojeed also highlighted Sani’s significant contributions to IPI Nigeria, including her pivotal role in hosting the IPI World Congress in Nigeria in 2018 and her work on several committees. He urged her to continue lending her voice to the fight for press freedom even in retirement.
Director-General of VON, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, praised Sani’s professionalism and visionary leadership, describing her as a “digital pioneer” who kept VON at the forefront of innovation in public broadcasting.
“Her experience, passion, and love for journalism have inspired younger generations of journalists and kept VON competitive in a rapidly evolving global media space,” Ndace said.
Former Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, hailed Sani’s retirement as “a loss for the organisation but a gain for the wider media ecosystem,” lauding her servant-leadership style, commitment to mentorship, and dedication to socially responsible journalism.
Former NUJ President, Abdulwaheed Odusile, also commended her consistency and integrity, saying her contributions have earned her respect in the Nigerian media industry.
In her response, Sani expressed gratitude to God, her family, and her colleagues for their support, describing her 34 years of public service as “difficult, challenging, interesting, and rewarding.”
“It’s not easy. You have new and great ideas, but some people don’t understand, so they find it a bit difficult to agree with you. But if you are consistent, have a clear vision, and stay resolute, the sky is not the limit,” she said.
Sani assured that she is “retired but not tired,” pledging to remain active in the media space through research, teaching, lecturing, and writing.
“I will be doing a lot of research work and writing. My brain is still very active, and I won’t get tired of seeing myself in the media space,” she concluded, drawing applause from attendees.
The dinner also became a forum for broader reflection on the state of journalism in Nigeria, with many participants warning that the harassment of journalists is gradually eroding citizens’ access to credible information.
IPI Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to defending journalists’ rights, calling for government restraint, legal reforms, and stronger institutional protections for reporters and news organisations.