By Motunrayo Alaka
As Nigeria marks World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) calls for the establishment of a National Framework for Media Sustainability, Independence, and Protection as an urgent priority for safeguarding the country’s democratic future. This call comes at a defining moment, as the global theme, ‘Shaping a Future at Peace: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis and Digital Transformation,’ reflects a rapidly evolving media landscape shaped by economic pressures, environmental pressures, security risks, digital disruptions and a contracting civic space.
Press freedom must be understood in its full breadth. Beyond protection from physical harm, it includes the ability of journalists and media organisations to operate sustainably, uphold ethical standards, maintain editorial independence, and function without political, economic, legal, or technological constraints that undermine may public interest reporting.
Across Nigeria, these pressures are visible. Media organisations continue to shut down or scale back operations due to financial strain and limited innovation capacity. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, several major newspapers have reduced their page counts, reflecting deepening revenue challenges
. Journalists face persistent welfare concerns, including poor remuneration, job insecurity, and limited institutional support, while the absence of a dedicated funding framework for investigative journalism continues to weaken accountability reporting.
These structural challenges exist alongside ongoing safety risks. Recent incidents, including the assault of Mohammed Adamu of Albarka Radio, the attack on Allwell Ene of Naija FM, and public threats against Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television, reinforce a pattern of violations. WSCIJ’s 2024 Journalism and Civic Space Guard Report, Shrinking Freedoms, documented, 103 civic space violations, with journalists as the most affected group. Evidence from WSCIJ’s reports shows that threats intensify during elections and periods of civic participation. As Nigeria approaches another electoral cycle, the need for proactive safeguards is urgent.
Beyond Nigeria, similar patterns are evident across the West African sub-region, where civic spaces and democratic institutions are under increasing strain. Globally, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 129 journalists were killed in 2025, while UNESCO highlights a continued decline in freedom of expression and growing concentration of media revenues within digital platforms.
In response, WSCIJ calls for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder framework that addresses the full spectrum of risks to press freedom. This includes legal and regulatory reforms to protect expression, clear accountability and protection mechanisms for journalists, and policy and financial support for media sustainability, including dedicated funding for investigative reporting. It also requires strengthening professional standards and welfare, and ensuring fair value for journalistic content, information integrity, and safeguards in an AI-driven media environment.
This framework must be driven collaboratively by government, media industry bodies, civil society, and technology stakeholders. Professional associations, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, alongside media proprietors and newsroom leaders, have a critical role in strengthening ethics, welfare, and editorial independence.
As Nigeria stands at a critical democratic juncture, protecting press freedom requires more than reactive measures. It demands deliberate action to build the conditions for journalism and drives social justice and development to thrive. Without accountability, violations will persist. Without independence, journalism in the public interest will remain constrained. Without sustainability, press freedom will falter. The time to act is now.
**Motunrayo Alaka
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ)
