Media Roles And The Nigerian Citizen’s Right To Information: A Call For Media’s Equipment By Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq. – TheNigerialawyer

In the area of dissemination of information to the public, the
media play great roles especially in the context of Nigeria as a
developing country. Many challenges confronting some of the
communities in Nigeria would or might not have been to the notice
of the citizens if not for the media. Also, it is the
constitutional right of the citizens to know and have access to
information. This paper is of the view that in order for the media
to thrive, there is need to equip the media and therefore calls for
government’s support and regulation to ensure enhancement of the
media and not to impede on their progress and effectiveness.

The word ‘Publication’ and
‘Media’ do not mean the same thing. The
former means ‘the publicity, dissemination or making
known of information by any means or through the mass-media’. See:
Ejabukor v HRM Oshall (1990) 5 NWLR (pt. 148), p.1. SC. It is the
communication of information generally, whether it be ideas,
sentiments, opinions or facts and so forth. See: Ese Malemi, Mass
Media Law, 3^rd Edition, Princeton Publishing Co. Ikeja,
Lagos, 2009, pg.4. The latter on the other hand,
means in this context, ‘the means of
mass-communication, such as: radio, television, newspaper, books,
advertising and other media of receiving and disseminating ideas
and information. See: EseMalemi (op.cit).

Generally, media is either: print or electronic. The print media
refers to any form of writing, words, information, publication or
communication usually, but not exclusively made on paper, such as:
newspapers, magazines, periodicals, catalogues, brochures,
handbills, books, tracts, leaflets, banners, whether or not made
with paper, cloth, flex, information or instructions written on the
body of any kind of product, such as: plastic plates, gift items,
advertisement on the body of motor vehicles, bill boards, and so
forth. Electronic media includes every other medium of receiving,
publishing, and communicating ideas and information other than
paper, that is made by audio-visual publications, transmission or
broadcast by means of electronic gadgets and equipment, such as:
radio, television, fax, internet on the computer, photocopier,
scanner, telephone and so forth. See: EseMalemi
(op.cit.). This includes communication through social
media. In other words, the media is the means through which
publication is made.

In Nigeria, the freedom of expression of every citizen is
guaranteed under section 39 of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria Constitution, 1999-herein after referred to as the
Constitution- in Chapter IV. This section provides
thus: (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of
expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and
impact ideas and information without interference. (2) Without
prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section,
every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any
medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions:
provided that no person, other than Government of the Federation or
of a State or any other person or body authorized by the President
on the fulfillment of conditions laid down by an Act of the
National Assembly, shall own, establish or operate a television or
wireless broadcasting station for any purpose whatsoever. (3)
Nothing in this section shall invalidate any law that is reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society- (a) for the purpose of
preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence,
maintaining the authority and independence of courts or regulating
telephony, wireless broadcasting, television or the exhibition of
cinematograph; or (b) imposing restrictions upon persons holding
office under the Government of the Federation or of the State,
members of the armed forces of the Federation or members of the
Nigeria Police Force or the Government security services or
agencies established by law’. (Underlining is mine for
emphasis).

Furthermore, the freedom of the media to disseminate information
is guaranteed by the Chapter II of the Constitution in
section 22 thus ‘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’.

I therefore humbly recommend that the government should direct
its policies towards equipping the media whether by its local or
international media practices or treaties. This has a positive
impact on the people’s belief and trust in the government and its
operation.

Therefore, in my humble view, part of the means of equipping the
media is for the government to improve electricity problems in
Nigeria. This is much more important because where there is no
supply of electricity, it might be very difficult for the media to
thrive and it would be difficult for the public to also be exposed
to the news around the nation and around the globe. Communication
too is affected by electricity. In fact, a lot of things are wrong
with Nigeria where the electricity is not improved upon or
defective. At present, there are eleven (11) different electricity
Distribution Companies-herein referred to as DISCOs among which is
the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company-herein referred to as
AEDC. They are owned by private individuals and not government,
even though the government is also major shareholders of these
companies. It is only regulated by the established government’s
body (ies).

The Government’s Regulatory Body in charge of electricity
regulation is the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission-herein
referred to as NERC. The Ministry of Powers, the
Nigerian Electricity Management Services
Authority (NEMSA)
established under the Nigerian Electricity Management
Services Authority (NEMSA) Act, 2015 are main electricity power
sectors. NERC is empowered by the EPSR to ensure an
efficiently managed electricity supply. The Act mandates the
Commission to ensure that electricity supply industry meets the
yearnings of Nigerians for stable, adequate and safe electricity
supply. The Act also mandates the Commission to ensure that
electricity investors recover costs on prudent investment and
provide quality service to customers. The Minister for Power, Works
and Housing is empowered under the EPSR to regulate and supervise
the Commission. The slogan uttered whenever there is electricity
power disruption, where people shout
‘NEPA!!!’ and when the power is
re-installed, they shout ‘UP NEPA!!!’
(the slogan which have continued to be passed to generations even
those yet to come) is just a confirmation of a failed electricity
power sector. At least, I have the personal experience of
Saudi-Arabia and a friend of mine too shared his experience of
Malaysia with me, for example, have constant electricity power
supply, hence, their economic and media development, even, Ghana is
said to be better improved than Nigeria in electricity power
supply. Why can Nigeria not also improve in her electricity?! This
is what we envisage that our government’s officials in Nigeria who
travel to foreign countries would borrow and implant such
nation-building ideals and ideas in Nigeria for her development but
never! This will not be the situation. Perhaps those who benefit
from the failures are those who would wish that Nigeria continues
and are always discouraging acts that would put Nigeria in her
proper improvement with such comments as ‘Nigeria is a
lost nation!’, ‘Nigeria is gone!’, ‘It can not be well for Nigeria
again!’, among other discouraging comments. Whereas,
it is in the same bad situation of Nigeria that they are building
mansions, buying brand new labeled cars in vogue, sending their
children to abroad for educational and career purposes, etc., yet,
Nigeria is not better! This is so perhaps because they benefit from
corruption and when the nation is not properly fixed. Furthermore,
in my humble submission, criminalities would also be resolved or be
reduced by the use of technologies. For instance, the CCTv cameras
would only work where there is electricity supply. Even solar is
cost to obtain. The Nigeria Police Force has been reported in the
newspapers to have promised to launch an application that would aid
fight against criminality in Nigeria. This is indeed a wonderful
idea but maintaining such technology with no electricity power or
low current electricity is another challenge. Also, the citizens
are always vulnerable to criminals’ attacks during raining season,
due to the operational surveillance and studies of those criminal
elements who utilize the raining periods when people are deeply
asleep and when there would be no electricity power supply to
waylay their targets in the darkness, and would always succeed in
their nefarious operations. Thus, the Nigerian media and
communication means have collapsed as a result of bad electricity
power in Nigeria.

Furthermore, security of media equipment is another means of
equipping the media. Also, government needs to review its policies
and regulatory institutions regulating media and the media
personnel in Nigeria in such a way that the continuous freedom and
effective operation of the media are guaranteed and the public’s
access to information is assured. Also, government needs to make
provision for the security of media and the media personnel in
order to aid media operation without fear or intimidation.
Furthermore, I humbly recommend that government should make
adequate provisions or financial allocations or grants to keep the
media functioning and this is another means of equipping the
media.

Finally, it is my humble submission that the media have great
roles to play in the public dissemination of information to the
public. Also, government requires the continuous operation of the
media to keep the public abreast of how the government functions
and the happenings in other local communities and the global
nations. Therefore, equipping the media is the encouragement of its
effective operation in order to ensure national growth.

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