President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last night assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve in securing every part of the country and creating an environment where every citizen can live, work and prosper.

He declared that security forces have steadily shifted from merely reacting to threats to systematically degrading criminal and terrorist networks.

The President said that although security challenges persist, sustained military operations, improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and expanded regional and international cooperation have significantly strengthened the nation’s fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other violent crimes.

Tinubu gave the assurance at the maiden State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where he also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom, responsible journalism and democratic accountability.

According to him, military operations have intensified across several theatres of operation, resulting in the neutralisation of thousands of terrorists and criminal elements, the rescue of numerous hostages and the recovery of communities previously under the control of armed groups.

He said: “While Nigeria continues to face security challenges, we have moved steadily from reacting to threats toward systematically degrading them. We remain resolute in our commitment to securing every part of our country and ensuring that every Nigerian can live, work, and prosper in peace.” Africans& Diaspora

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He commended members of the armed forces and other security agencies for their courage and professionalism in confronting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities across the country.

On economy, Tinubu admitted that Nigeria is undergoing one of the most ambitious reform programmes in its history, stressing that the difficult but necessary policy decisions taken by his administration are beginning to produce positive results.

According to him, He said the economy is stabilising, public revenues have increased significantly, state governments are receiving substantially higher allocations to fund development, investor confidence is returning and the country’s foreign reserves have improved considerably.

The President added that investments were flowing into the oil and gas sector, while the Nigerian stock market has recorded remarkable growth, with key economic indicators moving in the right direction. Africans& Diaspora

According to him, ongoing tax reforms, fiscal reforms, infrastructure investments and efforts to improve the ease of doing business are laying the foundation for a more competitive, productive and prosperous economy.

He acknowledged that challenges remain but insisted that the direction of the economy is now clear and that the foundations for long-term growth have been firmly established.

Tinubu reaffirmed commitment to protecting press freedom and freedom of expression as guaranteed under the Constitution.

He assured State House reporters that the government would continue to provide them with the access, resources and freedom required to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

The President described himself as a lifelong supporter of a free press, recalling that he had consistently defended media rights throughout his public life and would continue to do so.

He, however, stressed that constitutional freedoms must always be exercised responsibly, urging reporters to balance their rights with the obligation to report accurately in ways that do not inflame tensions or undermine national security.

According to him, democracy cannot thrive without a free press, but the enormous influence wielded by the media also demands accountability, professionalism and strict adherence to ethical standards.

Tinubu expressed concern over the growing menace of misinformation, disinformation, fake news, deep fakes and voice and facial cloning, warning media practitioners against becoming channels for the dissemination of falsehood and unverified information capable of endangering national security.

He said the rise of social media had made professionalism even more important, arguing that journalists must distinguish facts from rumours, evidence from speculation and truth from falsehood.

“We live in an era where misinformation and disinformation travel faster than facts. The media must choose fact over falsehood. The media must choose substance over sensation. The media must choose credibility over clickbait and the endless race for followers, likes, and viral outrage”, he said.

The President added that freedom of expression does not include the freedom to defame, while press freedom should never be interpreted as a licence to deliberately mislead the public.

He said public confidence in journalism can only be sustained through fairness, professionalism, integrity and accuracy.

Tinubu noted that legislation such as the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant laws were enacted not to weaken press freedom but to protect citizens from malicious falsehood, cyberstalking, identity theft and other abuses associated with the digital age, while preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s information ecosystem. Africans& Diaspora

He equally reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of expression and press freedom under Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, describing them as critical pillars of democratic governance, transparency and public accountability.

He thanked the correspont for their dedication in reporting the activities of his administration and acknowledged their role in keeping Nigerians informed.

Tinubu expressed hope that the maiden State House Media Corps Presidential Dinner would become an enduring tradition celebrating the partnership between government and the media in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.

He described the relationship between government and the media as one of healthy democratic rivalry, explaining that while governments are expected to govern and explain their actions, the media has the constitutional responsibility of asking difficult questions and holding public officials accountable.

“Government must act. The media must watch. Government must explain. The media must question. That arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension. It ensures that we are constantly at each other’s throats – not because we dislike one another, but because democracy demands it,” he said.The President remarked that although government and the media often appear to be adversaries, they remain indispensable partners in nation-building.

Reflecting on sojourn in public life, Tinubu said he had become one of Nigeria’s most scrutinised politicians and observed that during election campaigns, rumours often transformed into accepted truths before facts could emerge. Africans& Diaspora

He recalled how contradictory headlines on the economy could appear within days of each other, questioning whether sufficient context, analysis and verification were always provided to help citizens understand changing realities.

According to him, the Nigerian people ultimately demonstrated wisdom by separating facts from falsehood during the election, reinforcing his belief that democracy requires not only a free press but also a responsible one.

He urged the media and government to deepen mutual respect, professionalism and constructive engagement while maintaining healthy scrutiny in the national interest.

The President called for the replacement of needless hostility with constructive engagement, sensationalism with professionalism and the pursuit of outrage with a commitment to truth.

He said the media remains a vital partner in national development by informing citizens, shaping public discourse, promoting civic participation, strengthening national cohesion and contributing to economic and social progress.

Tinubu thanked members of the State House Press Corps for their dedication and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and wished them a pleasant evening as he declared the inaugural presidential media dinner a success. Africans& Diaspora

At the get-together, senior government officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila; Information/Natioanl Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris, delivered goodwill messages that highlighted Tinubu’s physical and structural achievements within the space of three years.