"Kogi Govt Commits to Press Freedom, Partnership with Media"

By Ahmed Muhammed Danasabe

Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria - September 26, 2025 (Series News Online)

The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the media to promote good governance and accountability in the state. The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, made this declaration during the 2025 Press Week celebration of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kogi Council on Thursday in Lokoja.

Fanwo emphasized that the administration of Governor Ahmed Ododo recognizes the media as a critical partner in governance and is committed to providing an enabling environment for press freedom. "The partnership between the government and the media has been instrumental in communicating government policies, programs, and achievements to the people," he said.

The commissioner commended the NUJ for its resilience, professionalism, and commitment to nation-building. "We urge journalists to continue to hold the government accountable in ways that are fair, factual, and solution-driven," Fanwo said. "We also charge journalists to see their profession as a calling that demands courage, sacrifice, and an unflinching commitment to the truth."

Fanwo assured that the government would continue to provide an enabling environment for press freedom, noting that democracy cannot thrive without it. He urged journalists to join the government on a tour of some of the projects the administration is working hard to deliver to the people.

The Commissioner also conveyed the Governor's message to the media, urging them to rise up in support of President Bola Tinubu, who has put the people first through reforms that have returned economic powers to the people. "The administration is already seeing the fruits of the President's courageous decisions," Fanwo said.

National President of NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, acknowledged the critical role journalists play in shaping the narrative on solid mineral development in Kogi State. Yahaya, represented by Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh, Vice President NUJ North Central, urged members to uphold the highest standards of journalism, promote truth, and advocate for the welfare of citizens.

The Ohimegye Igu of Kotonkarfe Kingdom, Dr. Akawu. Emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the media in promoting policies and programs. The royal father also advocated for the removal of unqualified journalists who disregard professional ethics, urging the NUJ to take the lead in sanitizing the profession and eliminating quacks.