The Federal Government on Friday emphasised the need to develop clear ethical guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media sector, particularly in journalism.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, made the call during the 2025 World Press Freedom Day event held in Abuja, organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in collaboration with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
Idris also emphasised the importance of investing in journalist training to ensure effective use of AI tools.
Represented by Suleman Haruna, the Ministry’s Director of Press, Public Relations and Protocol, the Minister further called for transparency in AI-generated content.
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He urged industry stakeholders to support the upcoming UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Institute and to foster critical thinking and media literacy among the public.
He said, “As we embrace AI’s potential to transform journalism, we must establish appropriate legal safeguards and ethical frameworks,” he stated.
“Newsrooms are increasingly having to disclose when AI is used in content creation, as evidenced by instances where media outlets failed to do so transparently,”.
Idris reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to the responsible adoption of AI in journalism.
“We recognise that our future is not necessarily man versus machine, but man with machine.
AI innovation should underscore the excellence of our newsrooms and the vision that drives us”, he added.
He added that the Federal Government would be working to develop a national policy framework for AI in the media that balances innovation with the protection of press freedom and journalistic integrity.
Akintunde Rotimi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, expressed concern over the growing influence of AI in journalism and its implications for editorial independence and public trust.
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“Technology is a tool, not a conscience,” Rotimi said. “AI can generate flawless articles and analyze data at speed, but it cannot replace moral clarity or the courage to challenge power qualities at the heart of journalism”, he noted.
While acknowledging AI’s potential to accelerate reporting and broaden dissemination, he warned of its risks, including the amplification of bias, erosion of editorial control, and a surge in AI-generated misinformation.
“The rise of AI-generated false news is no longer a theoretical concern; it is already affecting societies worldwide,” he added.
Earlier, Marija Peran, Resident Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), said AI offers both challenges and opportunities for journalism.
Peran said AI can enhance speed and efficiency in newsrooms, but it also presents risks that may threaten press freedom.
She called for a careful balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and upholding journalistic ethics and integrity.
“World Press Freedom Day is a crucial opportunity to address these questions and recommit to defending media independence, especially as press freedom declines globally,” Peran added, affirming KAS’s continued support for independent media.
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Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), said the event also served as a reminder of the Government’s duty to uphold press freedom.
World Press Freedom Day is observed globally on May 3 to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and reflect on the state of media around
The event, themed “Reporting in the Brave New World The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” gathered media professionals, policymakers, and development partners in Abuja to reflect on the future of journalism in the age of AI.
