ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signalled a firmer regulatory posture on misinformation and digital abuse, warning that Nigeria will not allow falsehoods and manipulated content to undermine national security or public trust.
Speaking at the maiden State House Media Dinner in Abuja, Tinubu defended existing legal frameworks, including the Cybercrimes Act, and indicated that regulatory safeguards will remain central to managing the risks posed by the rapidly evolving media landscape.
“The recurring incidents of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, voice and facial cloning and deep fakes are concerning,” the President said, stressing that media practitioners must not become “willing couriers of falsehood or unverified information injurious to national security.”
While reaffirming his long-standing support for press freedom, Tinubu drew a clear boundary between protected expression and harmful content.
“Freedom of expression is not freedom to defame. Freedom of the press is not freedom to deliberately mislead,” he said.
The President emphasised that laws governing cybercrime, digital communication and information integrity are designed to protect citizens and preserve the credibility of Nigeria’s information ecosystem.
“These safeguards are not intended to weaken press freedom. Rather, they exist to protect citizens and preserve the integrity of our information ecosystem,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing global scrutiny of how governments regulate online platforms, digital publishers and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence-driven content, including deepfakes.
Tinubu also pointed to the constitutional framework underpinning media operations, citing Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act as balancing mechanisms between press freedom and accountability.
Analysts say the President’s comments signal a potential tightening of enforcement around existing laws, particularly as misinformation continues to shape public discourse and political narratives.
At the same time, Tinubu acknowledged the delicate balance between regulation and freedom, noting that the media remains a critical watchdog in a democratic system.
“Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain. The media must question,” he said.
He urged journalists and media organisations to strengthen editorial standards and verification processes in response to the speed and scale of digital information flows.
The President also reiterated that his administration remains committed to transparency and access to information, even as it seeks to curb abuses within the media and digital space.
The State House Media Dinner, he said, would serve as a platform for ongoing engagement as Nigeria navigates the intersection of media freedom, regulation and national security in the digital age.
