Nigerian media most vibrant in Africa, says minister

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described the Nigerian media as one of the most vibrant in Africa and indeed across the world, while assuring that the government will not do anything to stifle press freedom.

Speaking at the 3rd Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation in Beijing, China yesterday, the minister said the Nigerian media did not achieve its vibrancy by accident, saying apart from the fact that it derives its powers to function directly from the nation’s Constitution, it has come a long way.

He told the Forum, which comprised ministers and other top government officials, media practitioners and academics from Africa and China, that Nigeria is on course to meeting the June 2017 deadline of migrating from analogue to digital broadcasting.

“The Nigerian media is a veteran of the country’s battle of independence and of the battle to end long years of military rule in the country. Battle hardened over the years and empowered by the Constitution and the relatively new Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, you take on the Nigerian media at your own peril,’’ he said.