FG faults report indicting Nigeria

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has faulted a report by Reporters Without Borders alleging poor press freedom in the country.

In a statement in Abuja, he described the report as inaccurate and pledged the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to upholding the freedom of the press.

The minister explained that, despite the inaccurate and fake news saturating the media space, the Federal Government has not put a single journalist behind bars as a result of professional conduct.

Mohammed said even though there were reports that some states have been hard on some journalists and bloggers for alleged misconduct, it has not been the policy of this government to join issues with the media.

This government has an unflinching commitment to upholding the tenets of democracy, which include free press and freedom of speech, he said.

He said the recent incident involving the Punch Correspondent covering the State House was an aberration, adding that the speed with which the order barring the correspondent from the Aso Rock villa was reversed has lent credence to the fact that this government is not out to muzzle the press.