Nigerian press, most assertive, unyielding – Minister

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The Nigerian press has been described as one of the most assertive and unyielding in the world showing boldness, fearlessness in the face of intimidation and irrepressible capacity to speak truth to power.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris made this known Wednesday at the 2024 Annual General Congress of the International Press Institute, Nigeria, with the theme “Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting Nigeria’s Civic Space” in Abuja.
Idris said the greatest asset of the Nigerian press has been the boldness, the fearlessness in the face of intimidation and irrepressible capacity to speak truth to power regardless of the cost.
“In this very important journey of democracy, the media has been a constant presence and companion. The Nigerian press is one of the most assertive and unyielding in the world, and it has always been so.
“The Nigerian press has produced, over the decades, some of Nigeria’s most talented and remarkable professionals, great writers, golden-voiced broadcasters, innovative entrepreneurs, and Proprietors.
“But beyond the professional talent, the greatest asset of the Nigerian press has been the boldness, the fearlessness in the face of intimidation, the irrepressible capacity to speak truth to power regardless of the cost” he said.
Continuing, Idris informed that tax reform initiative will go a long way towards simplifying Nigeria’s existing tax regimes and making compliance easier, while also reducing the tax burden on the most vulnerable Nigerians.
“A recurring highlight of the reform is the introduction of several new tax exemptions, that will benefit various categories of individuals and businesses.
“Importantly, these tax reforms also complement ongoing macroeconomic reforms that are helping convert trillions of Naira that were previously lost to wasteful and abused subsidy programs, into substantial savings that are now able to finance productive sectors like high-impact physical and digital infrastructure, student loans and stipends, low-cost consumer credit, agricultural production, targeted social investment, and many more – all of the foundational elements required for a prosperous country that the world cannot ignore” he said.