Exclusive: NUJ Vows To Protect Journalists, Plans Nationwide Safety Campaign Ahead Of 2027 Elections

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting journalists against attacks, intimidation and harassment, declaring that defending media professionals remains a central responsibility of the union.

Comrade Alhassan Yahya, NUJ president, gave the assurance in an exclusive interview with Persecondnews on Monday to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

Describing the NUJ as the umbrella body for journalists in Nigeria, Yahya said the union’s responsibility was to defend the rights of journalists and ensure that media professionals receive support and protection whenever they face threats or violations in the course of their duties.

“I made it my duty to make sure that the umbrella body, which is NUJ, covers all journalists. Our duty is to protect the rights of every journalist and make sure not journalists is intimidated in their line of work,” he said.

Illustrating the union’s intervention in cases involving violations of journalists’ rights, Yahya cited the case of a journalist detained in the Republic of Benin for nine months without trial, explaining that the NUJ stepped in after efforts by sister organisations failed to secure his release.

“After a series of interventions from our sister organisations, it wasn’t working. We took it upon ourselves to intervene, and within 48 hours, he was released,” he said.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Yahya disclosed that the union was planning a nationwide sensitisation campaign across all 36 states to prepare journalists for the security challenges associated with election coverage.

“We plan on going around all the 36 states. As elections are coming up, we need to sensitise journalists on how they can protect themselves. We could have invited a few to Abuja and do the sensitization, but we want the message to get to everyone.” he told PerSecondNews.

Beyond the election sensitisation campaign, the NUJ President disclosed that the union was developing initiatives around gender, technological and economic safety to address the different vulnerabilities confronting media professionals.

He said the gender safety initiative would particularly address harassment and intimidation against female journalists while creating opportunities for them to develop their professional potential without discrimination.

The technological safety component would focus on helping journalists protect their equipment and cameras, while the economic safety initiative would address the need for improved welfare conditions across the profession.

On the welfare initiative, Yahya disclosed that the NUJ was developing a blueprint for a better package to improve the economic well-being of journalists.

“It is not something we can achieve now, but we are working on a blueprint to see how there will be a better welfare package for journalists. If we can sound the trumpets for others, why not for ourselves?”

In its global message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that journalists continued to pay a heavy price for informing the public and holding those in power accountable, disclosing that at least 34 journalists had been killed over the past year, with six out of every seven such killings going unpunished.

“Nothing should impede journalists’ ability to do their work, which is fundamental to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. That includes investigating every case, prosecuting every perpetrator and putting a stop to online attacks,” Guterres declared.

Similarly, the African Union Commission and the Federation of African Journalists warned that evolving technologies and weapons were creating new dangers for journalists, particularly those reporting from conflict zones, while perpetrators of attacks continued to evade accountability.

“Prevention, protection and accountability must guide this work,” the organisations declared, calling for stronger cooperation among governments, regional institutions, media organisations, journalists’ unions and civil society to guarantee journalists’ safety.

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is marked annually on November 2, following its designation by the United Nations to promote justice and journalists’ safety.