In commemoration of International Human Rights, which is marked on December 10 of every year, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) have called on the government to make human rights realistic for the Nigerians as stated in the constitution of the public and stop the anti-media law to intimidate journalists and media practitioners.

The theme for Human Rights Day 2024, “Our rights, our future, right now.” shows how human rights affect people everywhere, every day. Human rights have a tangible positive impact and offer practical solutions.

MRA, in a statement signed by Mr Idowu Adewale, the communication officer of the organisation, said the public trust deficit in government and the lack of unity, which impedes unlocking the potential of the Nigerian people, can be corrected if human rights and dignity could be restored in the country.

Quoting the MRA’s Programme Officer, Ms Esther Adeniyi, the statement said even though the primary obligation of the government is to ensure that the human rights of its citizens are not trampled, the reverse is the case in Nigeria as the cases of extrajudicial killings, police brutality, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful detentions, widespread gender-based violence, suppression of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, and the growing inequality continue to increase in the country.

MRA further condemned the attacks against journalists and other media professionals who are attacked in the course of doing their jobs. The organization called on the Federal Government to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for such attacks while ensuring a safe and conducive environment for the media to operate freely.

“The Federal Government has duties and obligations under international law to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. It cannot claim to be living up to these responsibilities in the face of the immense challenges facing human rights in Nigeria, including the rising cases of extrajudicial killings, police brutality, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, widespread gender-based violence, suppression of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, and the growing inequality across the country, among many others”.

“The unprecedented levels of attacks against journalists and other media professionals called on the Federal Government to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for such attacks while ensuring a safe and conducive environment for the media to operate freely.

As a result, MRA called for respect and protection of the fundamental rights of all Nigerians, as guaranteed under the Constitution and international treaties Nigeria is a party. It also called for an end to forms of injustice, urging the government to “end impunity and ensure justice for all by taking decisive action to hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable, including addressing issues of police brutality and misconduct by members of the military, ensuring fair trials, and compensating victims.

“Respect the rights of citizens to freely express their opinions, organize or take part in peaceful protests, and participate in other democratic processes without fear of harassment, intimidation, or persecution.

“Tackle gender-based violence by strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to address violence against women and children and provide safe spaces and support systems for survivors”, the organization”, MRA said.

In a similar position, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) also called on the Nigerian government to refrain from using repressive and anti-media laws such as the Cybercrimes Act and some codes of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to target, intimidate and harass journalists, critics, and media houses.

In a joint statement signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and NGE Secretary Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the two organisations expressed concern about the Nigerian government’s move to repress media and press freedom, stating that there are growing cases extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.

The two organisations reiterated that the Nigerian constitution has validated the existence of The rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, but the deteriorating situation of human rights and the rule of law in the country and longstanding impunity for violations of the rights of journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists is proving the provision of the constitution otherwise.

They also explained that political class and state actors are now deliberately suppressing media practitioners by filing strategic lawsuits against public participation, especially with the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and criminal defamation under the Criminal Code Act.
Furthermore, SERAP and NGE cited the cases of a few media professionals and activists who have experienced harassment and intimidation, claiming that the hostile environment against these human rights defenders continues to increase as their rights are being denied as a result of impunity in the country.

“As highlighted above, journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists face significant obstacles, and even criminal charges and arbitrary detention solely for peacefully exercising their human rights and carrying out their legitimate work in the country.

“Nigerian authorities at all levels increasingly use criminal defamation laws and other repressive laws to crack down on human rights and peaceful dissent, bringing frivolous lawsuits against journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.

“We are also concerned about the persistence of threats to journalists’ safety, and the potential chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and harassment, including by security agencies and politicians.

“We are concerned about the growing reports that journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists continue to be intimidated and harassed by invasive state surveillance, including through the use of commercial spyware, abusive legal actions, and coordinated online smear campaigns.

“Impunity for those who threaten, intimidate and harass journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists exacerbates the hostile environment for these defenders of constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights in Nigeria.

“Impunity for violations of the human rights of journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists continues to seriously impair human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, information and media freedom, and discourage critical reporting by the media”, they said.

SERAP and NGE therefore “call on Nigerian authorities at all levels to immediately and unconditionally release all journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and activists detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights and doing their legitimate work, including activist Dele Farotimi who is facing criminal defamation and cybercrime charges.

“We therefore call on Nigerian authorities to stop the threats and attacks against journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and activists and to stop detaining and imprisoning them solely for doing their jobs.

“We urge President Bola Tinubu and his government to publicly call on Nigeria’s state governors, the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to uphold and ensure full respect for the rights of everyone in the country including journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.

“We also call on President Tinubu and his government to ensure the prompt, thorough, impartial, transparent and effective investigations into all allegations of human rights violations against journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists and to ensure that those suspected to be responsible for are brought to justice as well as provide access to justice and effective remedies to victims”.