By Atoyebi Nike
The Chairman of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, has called on the United Nations to strengthen international laws that safeguard journalists, warning that democracy itself is at risk if the media remains exposed to violence and harassment.
Speaking in Ilorin, Ahmed described journalists as the “lubricant of democracy,” stressing that no system of governance can succeed without professionals who inform citizens and hold leaders accountable.
He condemned the rising global attacks on media practitioners, citing the recent killing of six reporters in Gaza as evidence of the dangers facing the profession. “It is high time the UN General Assembly took a firm stand on this eyesore,” he said.
Ahmed urged the UN to remain relevant by ensuring equal treatment of nations, preventing any superpower from acting as “global police,” and guaranteeing the safety of journalists under international law.
He further advocated the creation of a media endowment fund and a special salary structure to boost morale and uphold professionalism.
On local challenges, Ahmed decried the rise of “journalism without borders,” where untrained individuals use social media to spread unverified information, eroding public trust in credible outlets.
He also cautioned against misuse of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act, urging both citizens and journalists to exercise freedom of expression responsibly, without resorting to libel or defamation.
“Any society that fails to protect its journalists undermines its democratic foundations. Accountability must not be sacrificed to short memories,” he warned.
