Minister of Data and Custom, Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari stays a repentant democrat, notwithstanding Nigerian journalists depiction of him as a dictator.

Mr Mohammed spoke on Tuesday in Abuja when a delegation from Worldwide Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria chapter paid him a courtesy focus on to.

He acknowledged Nigeria had one of many most though-provoking and free press globally, and the administration became as soon as now no longer about to stifle press freedom or command someone his or her constitutionally-assured rights.

“If the relaxation, it is the authorities that is at the mercy of the media.

“After all, this ought to aloof be one of many just just a few countries the attach a fraction of the media can refuse to recognise standard sovereignty.

“How does one describe a downside by which a president who became as soon as duly elected by millions of Nigeria is wilfully stripped of that title, president, after which cheekily cloaked within the garb of a dictator by playing up his defense force title?” he acknowledged.

The minister acknowledged that no matter addressing Mr Buhari as a dictator, years after his defense force rule, journalists hold freedom within the nation.

“Despite that abuse of press freedom, those doing that hold continued to use their occupation without hindrance,” he acknowledged.

Mr Mohammed acknowledged he became as soon as cheerful that fundamental organisations equivalent to IPI had been taking the factors of now no longer appropriate press freedom but also ethics and false info, among others, very critically.

He charged the institute to seize a holistic seek at the factors touching on ethics, legislation, sustainability, credibility and false info.

The minister current that another folks had misconstrued their efforts to ensure responsible use of social media as an try to tamper with press freedom or threaten independent journalism.

He reassured the sizzling administration did no longer harbour such intentions to stifle press freedom.

(NAN)