Nigeria's media has played a pivotal role in shaping the country's democracy since its inception. The media space in Nigeria predates independence and has been a social force in the country's development. From the early days of print media introduced by missionaries, such as Rev. Hope Waddell's press in Calabar in 1846, to the establishment of Nigeria's first newspaper, Iwe Iroyin, in 1859, the media has been instrumental in galvanizing the people for emancipation and independence.
The post-independence era saw a media landscape driven by political and ethnic ideologies, despite the people's desire for good governance, accountability, and transparency. The military coup of 1966 and the civil war had a significant impact on the media, with the military government controlling the media narrative. However, the democratic emergence of 1979-1983 fueled a new form of partisan media expression, and the media's resistance to the military government's Decree No. 4 of 1984 hastened the handover to civilian rule in 1999.
The 1999 return to democracy was largely possible due to the media's cogent role in shaping public opinion. The media's role in Nigeria's democracy is indelible and monumental, but a new twist has evolved in the media landscape with the rise of social media influence. Social media has democratized the media space, but it has also changed how the young generation receives information, with the proliferation of fake news, misinformation, and confirmation bias.
The 2023 election was a prime example of the impact of fake news and misinformation on social media, with politicians using social media to overheat the polity. As Nigeria approaches another electoral year with the 2027 election, there must be a consensus on how to align traditional media and social media for better civic engagement and policy feedback. The Renewed Hope Agenda's achievements are fickle without demanding accountability and transparency from subnationals of states and local governments.
The first half of 2026 saw the three tiers of government receive N12.49 trillion from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). The Federal Government received N4.57 trillion, the 36 states received N4.47 trillion, and the 774 local governments received N3.13 trillion. However, the dividend of democracy is not quickly felt at the grassroots because states and local governments are not rising to people's expectations.
The media has a strong role to play in demanding accountability from subnationals on how funds given to them are spent. Nigeria has a 200,000-kilometer road network with a complex ownership pattern, with the Federal Government controlling 34,000 km, while states control 30,000 km. The largest share of the road network belongs to local governments, which control around 130,000 km, representing 66% of the road network.
The structural deficit witnessed at the local government level could only be fixed if there is accountability and fiscal responsibility from subnationals. It is a patriotic call that falls on all Nigerians who want to see the country progress. The media must continue to play its role in demanding accountability and transparency from those in power, and social media must be harnessed for better civic engagement and policy feedback.
Key points
- The media has played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria's democracy since its inception.
- The rise of social media has brought new challenges to Nigeria's media landscape, including the proliferation of fake news and misinformation.
- The media must continue to demand accountability and transparency from those in power to ensure the country's progress.
