The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has officially launched the CJID Openness Index, Nigeria’s inaugural subnational assessment of press freedom and civic space across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, this pioneering report combines rigorous qualitative and quantitative methodologies to evaluate the degree of openness across the country.
The Index is structured around two core indicators: enablers, which foster press freedom and civic participation, and inhibitors, which constrain these democratic liberties.
The assessment draws from responses gathered from more than 1,100 professionals, including journalists, editors, media executives and civil society actors and evaluates seven key dimensions, legal safeguards, institutional support, journalist safety, media plurality, digital and internet freedom, civic participation, and government transparency.
The findings reveal the fragile and uneven nature of civic and media space across Nigeria.
Chief Executive Officer of CJID, Dapo Olorunyomi, said “At its core, this Index seeks to safeguard the democratic values that empower citizens to speak freely, organise, and hold power accountable, “We view this data not only as informative but also catalytic, offering a factual basis to challenge repression, protect press freedom, and expand civic space.”
On his part, the executive director of CJID, Akintunde Babatunde, emphasised the strategic intent behind the report: “For us, this is about redefining what openness truly means in a democracy. As we evolve the Index into a pan-African tool, our ambition is to shape not just public discourse, but policy reform across the continent.
“For many years, CJID has led Nigeria’s media freedom efforts, from our data-driven Press Attack Tracker that documents violations against journalists, to our work with the Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom. This index expands that legacy”, he said.
