Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has challenged Nigerian editors to go deeper and prioritise rigorous investigation over noise, saying democracy needs more than elections, it needs independent scrutiny where facts are established and arguments tested.
Welcoming over 400 editors to the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference at The Dome, Enugu, Mbah said government and press have different responsibilities – government to be transparent and accountable, press to establish facts and report truth – but share same obligation of serving Nigerians. He said ballot gives mandate but what happens between elections determines health of democracy.
He said the sub-theme ‘When lies look real’ captures today’s crisis where technology can manufacture reality, with AI fabricating photographs, cloning voices and producing videos of people saying words they never said, often travelling worldwide before a journalist finishes a verification call.
Citing the Reuters Institute 2026 Digital News Report, Mbah noted trust in news among surveyed Nigerian online population stands at 68 per cent, among highest in 48 markets, though researchers caution sample is younger, more urban and educated. Globally, he said, trust has fallen to 37 per cent, lowest since 2015, with trust in news on social media at 22 per cent and AI chatbot answers at 20 per cent, while Freedom House reports global freedom declined for 20th consecutive year in 2025.
Mbah said Enugu is running an open government where the world can see what it does, listing over 1,500km roads, 7,000 classrooms, Smart Green Schools and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres in 260 wards, restoration of water, CNG buses, transport terminals, Enugu Air, revival of dormant industries and a new city rising, aiming to become top three state by GDP and economic gateway for South East. He credited partnership with President Bola Tinubu and Federal Government including Akanu Ibiam International Airport concession, and urged editors to explore Enugu and tell the story as they find it.