Imo Govt Rejects Ranking as Nigeria’s Most Dangerous State for Journalists

The Imo State Government has strongly rejected a recent report by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), which ranked the state as the most dangerous for journalists in Nigeria.

The report, released through the CJID Openness Index on Thursday, placed Imo 37th out of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a score of 40.70 per cent making it the lowest-ranking state in terms of press freedom and civic space.

Reacting to the ranking, officials of the Imo State Government described the findings as misleading and unfair, arguing that the state remains committed to the safety and freedom of journalists.

The CJID, a pan-African media development think tank, said the Openness Index is Nigeria’s first-ever subnational assessment of press freedom, civic engagement, and access to information across the country.

According to the index, Bauchi and Lagos followed Imo at 35th and 22nd, with scores of 42.69 per cent and 48.93 per cent respectively.

The Imo government, however, contends that the state has remained open to the media and has worked to ensure the protection of press practitioners, especially under the current administration.

Observers say the report could spark broader conversations about press freedom, journalist safety, and government transparency across Nigeria’s subnational entities.