The International Press Centre (IPC) has called for sustained efforts to protect journalists in Nigeria amid rising incidents of harassment, intimidation and rights violations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the IPC’s safety and protection of journalists (SPJ) hub to commemorate the 2025 International Human Rights Day, the organisation said attacks on journalists increased by at least 40 percent between 2020 and 2024, signalling a worsening climate for media practice.
The day, marked annually on December 10, commemorates the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations (UN).
The IPC said this year’s event, themed “Human rights: Our everyday essentials”, underscores how fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and press freedom, intersect with daily life and welfare.
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Lanre Arogundade, IPC’s executive director, said the theme serves as a reminder that the rights of journalists should remain at the heart of national discourse.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the fundamental rights of journalists. We must continue to attach the highest priority to safeguarding press freedom in Nigeria,” Arogundade said.
“We oppose any action, legislation, regulation or political pressure that limits freedom of the press.
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“These are trying times, and there is more to do in respect to creating an enabling environment for journalists.
“It is more important than ever that we work to ensure that the rights of journalists are not just words on paper but are seen, felt and experienced by journalists.”
The IPC-SPJ Hub urged government institutions, regulators, civil society and media owners to strengthen mechanisms that guarantee safety, accountability and freedom from oppression for media professionals.
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