The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has identified Imo and Lagos as the most challenging Nigerian states for journalists, citing patterns of repression and obstruction of media activity.

In a report released on Thursday, the CJID assessed all 36 states and the FCT based on access to information, cases of harassment, transparency of institutions, and the strength of legal protections for media practitioners.

“Imo and Lagos continue to exhibit characteristics that make press freedom difficult to uphold,” the report stated. It highlighted frequent cases of intimidation, limited access to public records, and non-cooperative behaviour by government agencies.

The assessment placed Cross River as the most improved and safest state for journalists, with a score of 70.40 percent. According to the report, this was due to what it called a more open government approach and reduced incidents of harassment. Other states with higher rankings include Ondo (63.72 percent), Delta (63.03 percent), Katsina (57.51 percent), and Ekiti (57.09 percent).

Imo and Lagos, on the other hand, fell behind with scores below 45 percent, alongside Ebonyi (41.90 percent), Bauchi (42.69 percent), Nasarawa (43.65 percent), and Anambra (44.68 percent).

CJID noted that broader issues of insecurity and political control continue to shape press freedom in these environments. It referenced the role of Lagos during the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and the ongoing security challenges in Imo linked to attacks by unidentified armed groups.

“State-level actors need to recognise that journalism is essential to democratic governance. The current environment in some states not only limits journalists’ work but also undermines citizens’ access to reliable information,” the report warned.

Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Section 39(1), though CJID said practical enforcement remains weak in several states. (The Guardian, excluding headline)