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Rights Groups Sound Alarm Over Waning Press Freedoms in Nigeria

Sahar Majid

   WASHINGTON - Nigeria is one of West Africa's "most dangerous and
   difficult countries for journalists," an international media watchdog
   has said.

   Expanded state surveillance, the spread of disinformation, and
   arbitrary arrests of journalists who report critically on the ruling
   political establishment were cited as the main obstacles to press
   freedom by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

   In its 2020 annual [1]World Press Freedom Index, RSF ranked Nigeria 115
   out of 180 countries, in which one is considered the freest.

   Other rights groups have also expressed alarm about conditions for the
   media in Nigeria over the past year.

   The [2]Media Foundation for West Africa said Nigeria was among the
   countries in the region where journalists are assaulted, attacked, or
   have had equipment seized and destroyed while covering COVID-19, the
   respiratory ailment triggered by the coronavirus.

References

   1. https://rsf.org/en/nigeria
   2. https://bit.ly/36nmraf

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