Dr. Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has assured media practitioners of the commission’s commitment to partner with the media to ensure sanity in cyberspace to enhance journalism practice.

He said the digital landscape had evolved and the transformation brought challenges including digital violence, stressing that NCC’s commitment to cybersecurity was unwavering.

Maida spoke during the World Safety of Journalists Symposium on Thursday in Lagos. The symposium organised by Media Centre for Promotion of Safety Awareness (MCPOSA) has the theme, “Mitigating Online Violence Against Journalists.”

The programme was held in commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

The day initiated by the United Nations General Assembly is celebrated annually on Nov. 2 to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity against journalists and media workers globally.

He said the commission would continue to collaborate with journalists and other stakeholders to stem the tide of online violence and create an inclusive digital space for citizens. He was represented at the event by Mr Henry Ojiokpota, the Zonal Coordinator, NCC.

Also, a management consultant, Prof. Eustace Onuegbu, has appealed to the Federal Government to enact and enforce laws that will specially address online violence against journalists.

Onuegbu, the President, International Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (IN-CSR), noted that legal frameworks that guarantee journalists’ safety were inadequate in the country.

He said that mitigating online violence against journalists requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders to ensure the safety of journalists.

According to him, strategies that can be implemented include strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing law enforcement capacity, promoting digital and media literacy.

Others are collaborating with social media, creating support networks, international cooperation, advocacy and awareness and encouraging responsible journalism.

Onuegbu appealed to the government to build enforcement capacity through training; educating the public on online responsible behaviours; push for local and International cooperation against irresponsible and unsafe online practices.

In her contribution, Ms Maureen Chigbo, President, Guild of Online Publishers, GOCOP, said crime against journalists were multi-faceted and were being perpetrated by different actors.

Chigbo said over the years, several journalists had been victims of surveillance, spying, harassment, threats, violence, assaults, unlawful arrests, jailing, kidnappings, and murder.

She stressed that journalists should participate in training that would enhance their safety, saying ‘dead journalists don’t write or report.’

Also, Ms Nuhy Yachat, representative of UNESCO, said putting an end to impunity for crimes against journalists was one of the most important and complex challenges of recent times.

She added that it constitutes a fundamental issue in guaranteeing the full exercise of the right to freedom of expression and the open, free and dynamic exchange of ideas and information for all people.

According to her, between Jan. 2019 and June 2022, UNESCO documented 759 individual attacks against journalists, including five killings, during 89 elections in 70 countries.

“This will also be an occasion to raise high on the agenda, the issue of the safety of journalists during elections, which will be especially important as 81 countries are about to vote in national and regional elections, including in some of the world’s largest democracies.

“All in all, around 2.6 billion people will be eligible to vote in elections during 2024,” she said. (NAN)