Cross River, Ondo, Delta, Katsina and Ekiti States have been ranked as the top 5 media-friendly and safest States for journalists to operate in Nigeria.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is contained in the CJID Openness Index Report launched in Abuja on Thursday.
Similarly, according to the report, Anambra, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Imo States ranked as the most dangerous States for journalists in the country.
The CJID Openness Index Report findings revealed an uneven democratic landscape in Nigeria, with significant variations in press freedom and civic space across States.
According to the report, the top-performing States rank as the most open States, notable for their tolerance of dissent, proactive information disclosure, and relatively safe environment for journalists and civic actors.
Anambra, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Imo States performed below average on indicators such as political tolerance, media independence, and behaviour of security forces, reflecting a repressive environment.
According to the report, between December 2023 and November 2024, 48 cases of press freedom violations were perpetrated by security agents, highlighting the gap between law and enforcement.
“Journalists face physical attacks, harassment, intimidation, and legal actions, with the police, military, and state security agents often implicated in suppressing dissent and civic activism,” the report reads.
The CJID Openness Index evaluated each State in Nigeria across seven diagnostic factors, including political environment, legal environment, economic environment, social and cultural context, journalistic principles and practices, treatment of journalists, and gender inclusion.
The index combined perception-based and incident-based data to provide a comprehensive picture of openness and press freedom in Nigeria.
According to CJID, policymakers, journalists, civil society actors, and citizens can use the report to benchmark progress, identify areas for improvement, and advocate for reforms that promote transparency and accountability.