This year, the media is 161 years old in Nigeria having been founded in 1859. In this report, TOPE SUNDAY asks how far it has fared.
The history of the Nigerian media is traceable to Rev. Henry Townsend, an Anglican Missionary, who established in Abeokuta the present state capital of Ogun state, the first-ever newspaper in Nigeria in 1859. The newspaper was named Iwe Iroyin fun awon ara Egba ati Yoruba. The newspaper, according to the head of the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Dr. Adetunji Ogunyemi, was initially published only in Yoruba language, but in 1860, it became bilingual, publishing in both Yoruba and English.
161 years after the debut of the first newspaper, Nigeria has witnessed massive transformation of the media, which today is now the voice for the voiceless. Despite the activities and effectiveness of the Nigerian media, the industry and its players appear to be still being oppressed.
The colonial media
Ogunyemi, who spoke to Blueprint Weekend in Abuja on Wednesday, argued that the first printing press in Nigeria was established in Calabar, the present state capital of Cross River state in 1846 by Rev. Waddell of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Mission. According to him, the press between 1859 and 1860 was mainly concerned with the church activities, local political and social issues. He said the newspaper also denounced slavery and slave trade, and advocated both indigenous and western education, among others.
“The press in Colonial Nigeria up to the Second World War was privately owned. The newspapers at that time had passion for self-rude and stood for the dignity of man for the African persona,” he said.
The press from 1960-1966
The university teacher also told this medium that during the period under review, the Nigerian media changed its attention from agitation to consolidation of self-rule. “Nigeria became independent of British colonial rule on October 1, 1960, and thus the attention and emphasis of newspaper press shifted from agitation for, to consolidation of self-rule. The challenge of the press then became how to ensure nation building as opposed to partisanship and rivalry against the British overlords.”
Repressive regimes and the media
The Nigerian media, which has been described as one of the most vibrant in Africa, has experienced some spiteful experiences in the hands of the successive governments in a bid to silence it, but it remains resolute.
Ogunyemi traced the beginning of repression of the press to between 1966 and 1979, adding that the era witnessed promulgation of decrees that were anti-human rights.
“Military rule occurred in Nigeria for the first time from January 15, 1966 to September 1979 (13 years) and though repression of the press and exclusionary judicial intervention, the press still found a way to survive if not flourish during the period.
“Some of the most repressive measures taken by the military during this period were: promulgation and enforcement of the Constitution (suspension and modification) Decree No. 1 of 1966, which removed the obligation of the government to observe any fundamental human right, freedom of expression inclusive. Promulgation and enforcement of the State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree No.3 of 1966, which empowered the Chief of Staff to cause to be detained, any journalist, he considered subversive of the government. However, all these did not deter the press from calling the government out on accountability.”
Ogunyemi also said the press in the Second Republic (1978-1983) witnessed the enactment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1979, adding that sections 21 and 36 of the Constitution granted freedom to the media practitioners. He said the press under the military between 1984 and 1999 witnessed unlawful detention of journalists, but despite this development, the don said Vanguard, Champion and ThisDay newspapers were established.
“The December 31 (mini-night) coup d’etat of 1983 terminated Nigerian Second Republic. At no time in Nigeria’s history was there such an avalanche of anti-press measures, decrees and edicts as in the second period of military rule in the country (December 1983 – 1999).
“The most draconian of such measures came in three forms, namely; arrest and detention without trial and for long periods, journalists who the government considered opponents of its policies, proscription of newspapers and prohibition from circulation of any newspapers or magazine.”
The Fourth Republic
Despite the unlawful detention of journalists, attempt to gauge the media through the ‘Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulations and Others Related Matters Bill 2019,” but code-named ‘The Social Media Bill,’ sponsored by Senator Muhammad Sani Musa, and the inability of some of the media houses to pay their workers’ monthly salaries, the fourth Republic has been said to be favourable to the Nigerian media.
Ogunyemi said, “Thus, with a freer operating environment and kegal guarantees, the press has continued to increase in visibility and relevance in the Nigerian society, leading to the establishment of more newspapers including the online newspapers.”
Al’s take
Assessing the Nigerian media, the country director, Amnesty International, Ms. Osai Ojigho, told this medium that the Nigerian media still holds the government accountable, but expressed reservations that its practitioners are not brave enough in the discharge of their duties.
“The media holds the government accountable by probing issues that the government is working on. Generally, I would say that the media are holding the government accountable in Nigeria and that is why they are being targeted and that is why they are being harassed.
“It is just that the press is not fully confident that they can go all the way and investigate all the issues they’ve raised because the press is also fearful of the government. In some areas, the press is not covering specific issues like the conflict in the North-east because they are afraid of the repercussion.
“The press is there to act as the watchdog and the press ask questions which can be uncomfortable, and which the government feels put them in a bad light. Government needs to realise that when you provide a public service you will definitely be monitored. Because you have come out to say that you are going to stand by the constitution, and to do all in your power to support the people. So, if things are not going on well, journalists have their rights to ask those questions.
“The government needs to stop this attitude that journalists cannot ask them certain questions like how much spent on the projects and all that.”
Rating the Nigerian media, Ogunyemi said: “The Nigeria press has come a long way and has come of age to the extent that it has become of the major players not only in Africa but in the world in terms of exposing three things; exposing lack of accountability in government; exposing the gap between the crème la de crème of the society and the ordinary person – that is, exposing inequality and exposing what is very critical in the development trajectory of Nigeria – the development of infrastructure, the development of financial system and the development of the service system.
“The press has done well in these three critical areas of development. No part of Africa has developed a media system that has been vibrant like the Nigeria media. I salute the creators of this profession.”
Nigerian vs foreign media
Also speaking, a lecturer at the Department of Journalism, Lagos State University, Dr. Tunde Akanni, the media has evolved over the time, adding that in terms of both technology and quality, it can rival the foreign media.
Akanni, who spoke with Blueprint Weekend in Abuja on Wednesday, said: “The Nigerian media has evolved over time. Indeed, Nigerian media’s interface with technology is as advanced as whatever you can find in any of the advanced countries. If you hold Nigerian newspapers side by side with the papers produced in Ghana, you will know that we really have gone far. That is with regards to quality.”
