Lawyers in Lagos on Thursday urged journalists not to be deterred by recent happenings in the country in disseminating information.
The lawyers gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations.
A lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu, urged journalists not to feel threatened by occurrences that could infringe on their rights to a free press.
Aturu told NAN in Ikeja that freedom of press could not be established without sacrifices from journalists.
“Freedom is very essential in the dissemination of information. It is the protection that the giver of such information has. For the freedom to be well established, certain sacrifices should be made.
“Journalists should not be perturbed by negative occurrences that militate against the discharge of their duties.
“They should rather see them as tests that will eventually lead to the independence and virility of the press,’’ he said.
Aturu said it was sad that the right to a free press was not fully enforced in Nigeria, adding that many journalists had lost their lives for daring to speak the truth.
Also commenting, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr Adebamigbe Omole, said journalists should be appreciated as the press was an integral part of the nation.
According to Omole, journalists should not be harassed or intimidated but allowed to practise their profession.
However, others who commented on the Day, urged journalists to be discreet in disseminating information and not to take the laws into their hands because of the FOI Act.
They argued that press freedom was a pivot for any developing nation.
Mr Biodun Adeoye, advised media practitioners to be cautious of the things they write and say, and guard against disseminating distorted and libellous information.
“Freedom of the press does not guarantee a journalist the freedom to defame people's character. It does not also give you the rights to pry into someone's private affairs,’’ Adeoye said.
Mr Paul Okoliko, a lawyer, said that the media was important in the administration of any government and so should be allowed to perform its function of a watchdog.
He said for any nation to succeed, there must exist, an informed press that would assist in disseminating information.
‘‘The press is a central part of the political system of any country and so cannot be dispensed with. However, that function must be carried out with due diligence’’ Okoliko said.
He, however, praised the Nigerian press which, he said, had fared well.
Mr Kola Afolayan, another lawyer, said with the signing into law of the FOI bill, more privileges should be accorded the press to freely gather and distribute news without fear or favour.
Afolayan said that the freedom of the press, guaranteed by the FOI law, must be exercised cautiously to avoid abuse.
He advised journalists to be diligent in the course of their duties and shun all forms of information that sought to disrupt public peace.
Mr Emeka Anyiocha, a lawyer and journalist, said that the provision of Section 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was meant to provide for the freedom of expression of every citizen.
He said that journalists in Nigeria enjoy that freedom which formed the bedrock of their operations.
Anyiocha said the important thing was for that freedom of expression, as well as the freedom of information, to be utilised in a manner that would promote peace and unity.
He, therefore, urged journalists to be fair in their analysis of issues and always seek to foster unity in the country.
NAN reports that the theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day is: “Media with the Power to Transform Societies’’.
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