As Nigeria commemorates World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has called for the immediate establishment of a National Framework for Media Sustainability, Independence, and Protection, warning that the country’s democratic future depends on decisive action to protect journalism.
The call aligns with the global theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis and Digital Transformation,” which reflects mounting pressures on the media landscape.
Across Nigeria, WSCIJ observed that media organizations are grappling with worsening financial strain, forcing many to shut down or scale back operations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, several newspapers have reduced their page counts, highlighting deepening revenue challenges and limited innovation capacity within the sector.
The organization also pointed to persistent welfare issues affecting journalists, including poor remuneration, job insecurity, and inadequate institutional support. According to WSCIJ, the absence of a dedicated funding framework for investigative journalism continues to weaken accountability reporting, leaving critical gaps in democratic oversight.
Executive Director of WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka, stressed that press freedom must be viewed beyond physical safety, encompassing the ability of journalists and media organizations to operate sustainably and independently.
She noted that journalists must be able to “uphold ethical standards and function without political, economic, legal, or technological constraints that undermine public interest reporting.”
In addition to economic pressures, safety concerns remain a major threat. WSCIJ cited recent incidents involving journalists such as Mohammed Adamu of Albarka Radio, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, and Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television as evidence of a troubling pattern of attacks and intimidation. Its 2024 Journalism and Civic Space Guard Report documented 103 civic space violations, with journalists identified as the most affected group.
“Evidence from our findings shows that threats intensify during elections and periods of civic participation,” the organization noted, warning that Nigeria’s approaching electoral cycle makes proactive safeguards even more urgent.
WSCIJ further highlighted that the challenges facing Nigeria’s media are mirrored across West Africa and globally. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 129 journalists were killed worldwide in 2025, while the UNESCO has reported a continued decline in freedom of expression alongside increasing concentration of media revenues within digital platforms.
In response, the organization called for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder framework to address legal, economic, and security risks to press freedom. It emphasized the need for reforms that protect freedom of expression, establish accountability mechanisms for violations, and provide financial support for media sustainability, particularly investigative reporting.
WSCIJ also stressed the importance of strengthening professional standards, improving journalists welfare, and ensuring fair value for journalistic content in an increasingly digital and AI-driven media environment.
The proposed framework, according to the organization, must involve collaboration between government, civil society, media institutions, and technology stakeholders to ensure long term impact and credibility.
Professional bodies such as the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists were identified as key actors in reinforcing ethical standards, protecting editorial independence, and advancing the welfare of media practitioners.
WSCIJ concluded that protecting press freedom requires more than reactive measures, urging stakeholders to take deliberate steps toward building a resilient media ecosystem that supports democracy, accountability, and social justice.
“The time to act is now,” the organization stated, warning that without sustainability, independence and accountability, journalism in the public interest will remain under threat.
