NPC urges security agencies to respect rights of journalists

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Mr. Nnamdi Njemanze, has urged security agencies and government officials not to obstruct journalists in the performance of their duties.

Njemanze spoke on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the occasion of the 2016 World Press Freedom Day.

NAN reports that the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 of every year as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness on the importance of the freedom of the press.

The Executive Secretary also advised the security agencies to ensure due process in the course of their interactions or dealings with journalists in the country.

According to Njemanze, the security agents should see journalists as partners in development, adding that the Nigerian journalists had contributed immensely to restoration of democracy and fight against colonialism.

He appealed to government officials at the federal, state and local government levels to allow journalists easy access to information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).