The federal government has claimed that the Nigerian press is one of the freest in the world, despite having a hand in the increasing attacks on journalists and accountability seekers in the country.

Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, said this after meeting Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, on Wednesday.

Idris told journalists that while Mills had raised some concerns about press freedom, the ambassador still acknowledged that Nigerian journalists were doing a commendable job.

The minister claimed that his ministry was working to ensure that Nigerians enjoy press freedom. This is despite the government’s repeated clampdown on dissenting voices.

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“The ambassador (Mills) talked about some issues he believes we need to address to improve press freedom, and we have assured him of the steps we are taking. He recognises that we are doing a great job in ensuring that the Nigerian press is not just free, but also one of the freest in the world,” Idris stated.

“I know there are some challenges here and there, but we are working on those areas to ensure that everyone enjoys what is called press freedom, which is a crucial part of any viable democracy.”

Idris further claimed that his principal, President Bola Tinubu, is committed to prioritising press and media freedom in his administration.

However, FIJ found that this claim was in contrast to the reality journalists and opposition leaders have faced in the country since Tinubu became Nigeria’s president in May 2023.

FIJ has extensively documented how attacks and arrests of journalists are on the rise. In one such report, FIJ detailed how at least 56 journalists have been attacked, beaten, harassed, and detained by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the past year.

In addition to the NPF, the Department of State Services (DSS) has also been a major instrument of journalist harassment.

Earlier on Thursday, FIJ published an alert about the DSS’ plan to arrest ‘Fisayo Soyombo, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), at any moment.

A security source who spoke with FIJ said that Soyombo would be arrested as soon as the state security service locates him.

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On Sunday, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) arrested Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, after he was placed on a watchlist by the DSS. He was arrested but soon released as supporters gathered at the airport to protest.

In August, the DSS also arrested Adejuwon Soyinka, the West Africa editor of Africa Confidential, as he landed in Lagos from the United Kingdom. They claimed he was placed on the watchlist by an unknown agency. The DSS released Soyinka hours later but kept his passport.

Another prominent case of the federal government’s oversight of press harassment is that of FIJ’s Daniel Ojukwu.