SECTOR 1 In the view of one panellist, the constitution (in laying down these provisions) finds a way to circumvent a right it has granted. Some panellists agreed with the spirit of the constitution and argued that no freedom was absolute. Among others, they said the protection of the rights of other citizens (such as the right to privacy and the needs of national security and defence) were enough grounds for the denial of freedom of expression and of the media. Similarly, laws against libel and slander were necessary for protecting private citizens and holding journalists and the media to account. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: Score of previous years: ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ 3.5 2008: 2.3; 2011: 3.5; 2015: 3.2 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear Femi Fani-Kayode, a politician, poet and essayist, has become both revered and reviled for his unrestrained commentaries. The former minister frequently attacks the Nigerian authorities, labelling them as incompetent and does not shy away from stoking the ethnic and religious divisions and tensions that characterise Nigerian politics and public life. He promotes a brand of nationalism modelled after the likes of the President of the United States Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.1 With more than 800,000 following his @realFFK account, the Twitter social media platform is his preferred medium for spreading views that can range from spirit-lifting to brash and hateful. ‘He says a lot,’ said one panellist. ‘If it was during the military regime, I don’t think this guy will still exist.’ In so many ways, Fani-Kayode and many others like him reflect the progress Nigeria has made in tolerating free speech, according to panellists. With the growth of social media, Nigerians from all walks of life can express themselves and fully participate in the country’s usually supercharged political debates. Despite politics becoming more hostile and incapable of accommodating the plurality of views, newspaper columnists have mostly remained critical. Similarly, radio and television commentators are still very outspoken and have created more avenues for open debates through phone-in programmes. In addition, the 9 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2019