…..Call For Robust Reportage Around Environmental Issues.
To achieve Press Freedom and create an environment where the media can perform its functions optimally, Nigeria must take urgent steps to bring its laws and practices into conformity with internationally accepted norms and standards.
The media sector must also appreciate its role in promoting a safe and sustainable environment and strive to play this role by bringing attention to environmental issues that may otherwise go unnoticed by the general public.
Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Edetaen Ojo gave these submissions at the Symposium commemorating the 2024 World Press Freedom Day organized by the Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria HRJN, in collaboration with the UNESCO Office in Nigeria, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Information Centre, UNIC in Nigeria.
The World Press Freedom Day is observed on May 3 every year to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991.
Delivering his keynote before over 100 stakeholders comprising Journalists and Civic Society Organisations who converged on Ikeja both physically and virtually, Ojo emphasised that reporting on the scale and urgency of environmental problems such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution, providing well-researched, evidence-based reporting on environmental issues to shape policy and inform effective environmental regulations are the way to go.
According to him, the media should engage in exposing corruption, negligence, or harmful practices by governments, corporations, or other powerful entities that contribute to environmental degradation; while explaining the complexities of environmental issues and their potential impact on society to the public.
Citing the 1999 Constitution which gives the Media the primary and perhaps, exclusive responsibility to focus on and monitor the implementation of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive
Principles of State Policy, Ojo said: ”Section 22 of the Constitution, which is contained in Chapter 2, provides as follows:
“The press, radio, television, and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”
”We may ask: what does section 22 mean in reality? Chapter II of the Constitution captures the basic principles and philosophy of governance in Nigeria. It also guarantees the social, economic, and cultural rights in Nigeria, somewhat similar to how Chapter IV of the Constitution guarantees the civil and political rights of Nigerians.”
He noted that for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the principles contained in Chapter II, the Constitution is very clear in insisting that the courts should have no role in this.
”In common parlance, the provision ousts the jurisdiction of the courts to inquire into any act of commission or omission regarding the provisions of the Chapter. In effect, the media is given the duty of ensuring that all organs of government and all authorities and persons exercising legislative, executive, or judicial powers, conform to, observe, and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution, which cannot be enforced by the courts.”
”In the context of our current conversation, the most relevant provision of Chapter 2 of the Constitution is Section 20, which provides that: “The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria, Ojo added. ”
The Executive Director of the Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria HRJN, Kehinde Adegboyega, in his opening remarks, said some journalists have had to change careers just because they want to stay alive as there are increasing attacks against journalists regularly.
Adegboyega, who highlighted the HRJN’s ongoing efforts to empower journalists and educate them about their rights, acknowledged the grave challenges facing journalists, stating that “the lives of many journalists are under threat, and some have even had to change careers to stay alive.”
“Today’s event seeks to bring attention to the importance of journalism in addressing the pressing environmental issues we face and advocating for human rights. By engaging in these discussions, we hope to raise awareness of these critical issues and inspire action towards positive change.”
In the highlight of the event, a panel session moderated by a journalist and HRJN team member, Shakirudeen Bankole, focused on discussions around environmental issues and the role of journalism in addressing these concerns.
Broadcast journalist and Vice Chairperson of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Bunmi Yekini, opined that journalists are doing a good job with covering news in every aspect except the environmental sector, calling for more collaborations among media practitioners.
Also on the panel, the Media and Communication Officer at the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Robert Egbe, expressed worries over the rates at which environmental issues are underreported by the Nigerian Media.
According to him, “We are not paying enough attention to environmental concerns that affect many people’s lives. Journalists often overlook these critical issues, leaving them undercovered and unaddressed.”
He also underscored the importance of drawing attention to the environment and the need for journalists to play a more active role in reporting on these issues.
