IBB: I Opened Doors for Press Freedom in Nigeria
Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has claimed that his administration contributed to press freedom and media liberalization in Nigeria.
In his newly released autobiography, A Journey In Service, Babangida outlined policies he said helped shape the country’s media landscape.
“Our media remains a source of strength and pride to all of us,” he wrote. “We may have had differences in information management, but no one can deny that Nigeria’s robust media remains a source of strength.”
Babangida, who ruled from 1985 to 1993, said his government removed restrictions on media ownership, allowing more Nigerians to enter the industry.
“Not only did we, as an administration, liberalize media ownership, but we also removed the mystery around media ownership,” he stated.
He described the media growth in Nigeria since his tenure. “I am proud that our policy initiative in this regard facilitated an explosion of talent and investment in media enterprises,” he said.
He added that since leaving office, he has remained accessible to journalists. “In my retirement, I have opened my doors to the media. I have granted countless interviews, expressed countless views, and been part of the tremendous Nigerian debate that keeps raging daily,” Babangida noted.
However, his claims on press freedom remain disputed, particularly over the assassination of Dele Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, who was killed in 1986 by a parcel bomb. The murder, which happened during Babangida’s regime, remains one of the darkest moments in Nigerian journalism history.
Despite longstanding suspicions, Babangida has denied involvement in Giwa’s killing. “Our nation is more beautiful because of the diversity of opinions and perspectives on any given issue,” he remarked, while maintaining that his administration contributed positively to Nigeria’s democratic growth.
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