Concludes that thanks to Nigeria's 1979 Constitution and to its independent courts, the press in that country has escaped serious mauling in spite of political and human frailties. (FL)

An independent, critical press has been active in Nigeria for a century. Most newspapers are privately owned and publish a range of news and commentary, often critical of the government. The history of the relations between the press and the government during the century, and particularly during the 20 months of rule by the Mohammedu Buhari regime…

Comparing the Nigerian press during the colonial period of British rule and the post-independence period, a case study examined two press laws: the Newspaper Ordinance No. 10 of 1903, and Decree No. 4 of 1984 (Public Officers Protection against False Accusation Decree). Using qualitative research methodology, the study investigated how the…