Abuja, Nigeria - November 30, 2025 Vice-President Kashim Shettima has assured that press freedom remains a non-negotiable priority in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Speaking at the 2025 International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja, Shettima hailed journalists as Nigeria’s defence against authoritarianism. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was entitled " Addressing Media Repression and Safeguarding Democratic Accountability in Nigeria." He said that journalists have played a stabilising role during moments of national tension by correcting misinformation and holding power to account. “We owe you a space of practice devoid of harassment, intimidation, or fear. That much is non-negotiable. "As a government, we must continue to create an environment where truth can thrive without obstruction and where the work you do is protected rather than policed." The Vice-President stated that a successful dictatorship is impossible in the country due to the press's vigilance. "Never in our history has any person or government succeeded in suppressing the media permanently.” Shettima also commended journalists for their resistance to foreign information manipulation and interference. "You have stood firmly against disinformation and refused to surrender your pens to falsehoods or foreign puppeteers. This honourable stance sets you apart. "I stand before you today not as a wary politician, but as a friend, one who acknowledges your indispensable role and assures you that this administration respects, and will continue to protect, your right to freedom of expression." Shettima, however, challenged the media practitioners to maintain ethical standards, warning against those who fabricate stories and refuse retractions when confronted with evidence. IPI Nigeria President Misikilu Mojeed said that the event would enhance practice and safeguard the lives of journalists. He noted that participants are expected to adopt a call to action centred on media reform. Mojeed called for solidarity against harassment, urging the government to curb abuses by state actors and security agencies. IPI Global Executive Director Scott Griffen praised IPI Nigeria’s press freedom efforts and called for stakeholder collaboration. (NAN).