Clem Aguiyi, the Chairman, African Free Press, has urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to support and promote free press among media professionals in the country.
Aguiyi made the call at a news conference as part of activities to unveil the maiden edition of the AFP Press Freedom Awards and dinner, scheduled to hold in September in Abuja.
He noted that journalists across Africa particularly, Nigeria had faced a lot of professional hazards and challenges in the course of reporting and informing the public of critical events.
The chairman said that there were cases where journalists were threatened, harassed, brutalised and unlawfully detained in the course of doing their jobs.
He also said that there were also cases of journalists who were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, targeted for murder and often times murdered with impunity.
Aguiyi said: “This is a global trend. I am aware that in Nigeria the media does not have a job security.
“The number of journalists killed by assailants since 1992 is well over 30, while hundreds were reportedly assaulted and brutalised by both states and non-states actors.”
On the awards, Aguiyi said that they had been categorised into three, which includes: Lifetime Achievement Award, Distinguished Service Award, Friend of the Media and Medal Award.
He said: “The awards will be presented to reporters who faced threats, physical injury, who showed brilliance and political personality, who actively support freedom of the press.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that AFP is a media organisation committed to free speech, press freedom and protection of media rights in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
The press freedom award is to promote free society, access to information and press freedom through the recognition of brave and courageous media professionals, who have risked their lives reporting.