The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has announced plans to commission a new Press Freedom Hub in Abuja as part of activities marking 2026 World Press Freedom Day. The initiative is being framed as a key step to intensify the campaign against media harassment and to provide a dedicated support centre for journalists and media professionals across the country.
The facility, located along Kado Expressway in Abuja, is scheduled to be officially opened on Wednesday, 6 May 2026. IPI Nigeria, which is affiliated with the International Press Institute, a global network of editors, media executives, and journalists active in over 100 countries, described the hub as a permanent base for advocacy, monitoring, and capacity‑building around press freedom.
The organisation’s Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau, said the new headquarters would anchor media advocacy programmes and strengthen efforts to protect journalists from threats, intimidation, and censorship. He added that the centre would also host regular assessments of media freedom and journalist safety in Nigeria, and support the push for policy and legal reforms that reinforce independent journalism.
Musikilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, noted that the hub would serve as a neutral space for dialogue between the media and government institutions, helping to foster greater understanding and cooperation on freedom of expression issues. He said this is particularly important against the backdrop of recurring incidents of harassment, intimidation, and the arrest of reporters and editors.
The launch comes as Nigeria ranks 112th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, according to a recent report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), underscoring both the need for the new facility and the broader challenges facing the country’s media environment.