Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has called for urgent reforms to safeguard Nigeria’s media landscape, proposing a comprehensive four-point plan during his keynote address at the 2025 NUJ Federal Capital Territory Press Week in Abuja.
The former Nasarawa State governor, who began his career as a media practitioner, delivered a passionate appeal for press freedom while warning of growing threats to journalism in the digital age.
“Journalism is more than reportage, it is the lifeblood of public accountability, the keeper of transparency, and the vessel through which democracy breath. Yet today, artificial intelligence, deepfakes and algorithmic bias threaten to displace fact with fiction. Nowhere is this more dangerous than in fragile democracies like ours, where truth often becomes the first casualty”, Al-Makura told assembled media professionals, government officials and civil society leaders at the Hilton Hotel.
His reform agenda focuses on four critical areas: establishing a Journalist Safety and Insurance Framework to protect media professionals in high-risk environments; creating a Media Innovation and Sustainability Fund to support newsrooms’ digital transition; launching nationwide Media Literacy Campaigns to empower citizens against misinformation; and forming a National Fact-Checking Alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Freedom of the press is non-negotiable,” Al-Makura emphasised. “But like all freedoms, it demands responsibility. Our challenge isn’t merely legal—it’s ethical. We must cultivate a media culture that prioritises truth over traffic.”
Drawing on his unique perspective as both a former journalist and ex public servant, Al-Makura praised the Nigerian press for its resilience during national crises.
“You chronicled our journey through the Fourth Republic, amplified youth voices during #EndSARS, and provided clarity during COVID-19,” he said. “In each moment of reckoning, you rose to the occasion.”
The address took a personal turn as Al-Makura reflected on his transition from newsrooms to politics. “I know the weight of words. I’ve felt the sting of scrutiny. Yet I remain convinced—the pen, the camera, the voice—these build or break nations,” he shared, before offering direct counsel to different stakeholders.
To journalists: “Verify more, publish less. Yours is a sacred calling.” To media owners: “Support your newsrooms—pay reporters fairly, shield them from intimidation.” To government: “See the press not as adversaries but as democracy’s early warning system.”
The chairman of the event, NUJ FCT Council’s Comrade Grace Ike, described the address as “both validation and challenge,” noting its timing during growing global concerns about press freedom.
FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike, present alongside House Speaker Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, echoed the call for media-government collaboration: “An engaged press makes for better governance.”
As the evening concluded, Al-Makura left attendees with a rallying cry: “Let this Press Week be not of fanfare alone, but of recommitment—to truth, professionalism, and the Nigeria we all believe in.” His proposals are expected to feature prominently in ongoing discussions at the week-long event, which continues with panels on artificial intelligence in journalism and investigative reporting challenges.
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