By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
In expectation of problems journalists may encounter while covering the End Bad Governance nationwide protest, a rights group, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to protect journalists covering the protests which is scheduled to begin tomorrow, August 1, 2024.
The group stressed that as citizens exercise their democratic right to protest unpopular government policies and actions, it is imperative that journalists are able to report on the events without fear of harassment, obstruction, or violence targeted at them.
In a statement issued on its behalf on Wednesday July 31 by Ms Esther Adeniyi, a Programme Officer, MRA urged the government and security agencies to adopt and implement specific measures to protect journalists during the protests, including ensuring their physical safety, respecting their right to gather information, and preventing any form of intimidation or violence against them.
According to her, the call became necessary in the light of recent events where journalists have faced undue harassment, obstruction, and violence while performing their duties with relevant authorities taking no steps or measures to ensure their safety, including during critical moments of public demonstrations.
Citing Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in November 2019, which it said had been given judicial seal in Nigeria by a Federal High Court in Abuja, MRA said the Government has an obligation to take measures to prevent attacks against journalists and other media practitioners as well as to take effective legal and other measures to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of such attacks.
Elaborating on the scope of the government obligations, Ms Adeniyi insisted that journalists must be granted unhindered access to cover the protests and other public gatherings in general and that obstructing their ability to report in any way constitutes a direct violation of press freedom that also undermines the public’s right to be informed.
She said: “The right of journalists to cover protests is fundamental to a functioning democracy. As Nigeria braces for significant protests in the coming days, it is crucial that journalists are allowed to perform their duties safely and without interference. We call on the Government and security agencies to take immediate action and proactive measures to protect journalists and uphold the principles of press freedom. In particular, the Government and security agencies should respect the role of the media and allow journalists to report freely and without hindrance; take proactive measures to ensure the safety of journalists covering the protests, including protecting them from physical harm, harassment, and unjust arrest or detention, as well as promptly investigating and bringing to justice anyone who threatens, attacks or harms any journalist.”
Ms Adeniyi also called on members of the public, including protesters, to recognize the important role that journalists play in a democracy and, therefore, support and protect them as they report on critical events affecting the nation.
She urged journalists to implement personal security plans as they go about covering the protests given the documented instances of harassment, intimidation, and violence against media professionals during previous protests. She also advised them to report any incident of attacks or harassment that they encounter while covering the protests through MRA’s hotline – 0806 524 0610.
