Strengthening trust and collaboration between the police and the media has emerged as one of the key recommendations from the 2024 Journalism and Civic Space Status Report, launched by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in Lagos.

The report, titled “Shrinking Freedoms,” paints a troubling picture of Nigeria’s civic space, documenting 103 violations reported 342 times in 2024 — with journalists identified as the most targeted group, accounting for more than half of all victims. The Nigerian Police were implicated in over 65 percent of the incidents, a figure that experts say underscores deep-seated institutional mistrust and weak accountability.

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At the event, panelists and stakeholders emphasized that repairing the strained relationship between journalists and law enforcement is critical to preserving Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring responsible, transparent governance.

The panel recommended establishment of regular dialogue platforms between the police and media professionals to promote transparency and accountability; joint training and sensitization workshops on human rights, ethics, and conflict-sensitive reporting; and strengthening the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) to ensure credible, transparent redress mechanisms for abuses against journalists.

The panel also called for development of clear communication protocols to prevent misinformation and reduce conflict during coverage of protests or security operations.

Professor Ernest Ereke, political economist at the University of Abuja, who reviewed the report, warned that Nigeria was “a step away from a closed civic space” and called for institutional reforms that prioritize respect for rights and media freedom.

Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), said that press freedom goes beyond avoiding arrests or physical harm. “True freedom,” he noted, “means journalists can report without fear of reprisals. That’s impossible when police officers act as tools of political control rather than protectors of rights.”

Representing the police, Abimbola Adebisi, Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command, acknowledged communication gaps between law enforcement and the media, which she said often fuel mistrust and misinformation. She highlighted ongoing reforms within the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) and called for “continuous engagement and capacity-building on both sides” to foster mutual respect.

“The police cannot do it alone,” Adebisi said. “We need journalists to report responsibly and accurately to foster understanding. The more we communicate, the more we can build trust.”

Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, echoed this view, urging both institutions to commit to open dialogue and joint training to bridge the gap between law enforcement and press freedom advocates.

In her closing remarks, Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director of WSCIJ, described the report as “a mirror and a call to action,” stressing that collaboration, not confrontation, must define the relationship between the police and the media. “When both sides understand their roles in upholding democracy, the public ultimately benefits,” she said.

The event also featured contributions from Bisan Habu of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and Peter Keulers, Deputy Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who both emphasized that protecting civic space and fostering police–media cooperation are essential to sustaining democracy.

The WSCIJ report is part of the Civic Space Guard Programme, launched in 2021 and now under the Leveraging the Power of the Media to Fortify the Civic Space and Tackle Malinformation Programme, supported by CJID and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.