The Nigerian National Committee on International Press Institute (IPI) has condemned what is described as “the rising wave of media harassment in the country.”

In a communiqué jointly signed by IPI chairman Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and Secretary Raheem Adedoyin at the end of its meeting held in Abuja yesterday which reviewed the state of free media in the country, the institute expressed grave concern over the rising wave of media harassment in Nigeria.

The communiqué reads in part: “IPI notes in particular the increasing resort to unwarranted invitation and detention of journalists, rather than the court of law, for alleged but unsubstantiated media offences by security agencies. IPI therefore, implores the security agencies to refrain from this unwholesome practice especially in this critical election year.”
IPI however, called on the National Assembly to fulfill its promise to the Nigerian people of passing the long-awaited Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill before the end of the current session saying, “Nigerians, and the media community in particular, will hold our federal legislators by their words even as we urge all stakeholders to remain vigilant until the passage of this all-important bill.”

While imploring the government to ensure media protection before, during and after the general elections, the instituted also urged media practitioners to engage in fair, accurate and balanced reporting.

The meeting had in attendance the old and new members from across the country including IPI National Leader, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua. The next meeting of the IPI Nigerian National Committee will take place before the IPI World Congress in Taipei, China in September 2011.