In a historic move that signals progress for press freedom in Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS) has officially removed veteran journalist and media rights advocate, Lanre Arogundade, from its watchlist—ending a 40-year-long period of surveillance.
Arogundade, currently the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), was first placed on the watchlist during his tenure as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) between 1984 and 1985 under Nigeria’s military regime. Over the years, he faced repeated harassment, including detentions at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with the most recent incident recorded in 2022.
The announcement was made during the 3rd Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on May 6, 2025. The DSS Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, communicated the agency’s decision directly to the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI), whose sustained advocacy led to the delisting.
Reacting to the news, Arogundade expressed deep gratitude to IPI Nigeria and the media community for their unwavering support and efforts toward protecting journalists’ rights in the country.
“This is not just a personal victory but a win for every journalist who has faced unjust persecution. It proves that persistent advocacy works,” Arogundade said.
Media stakeholders at the summit welcomed the development, describing it as a milestone for press freedom and civil liberties in Nigeria—a country where journalists often face intimidation for their work.
The DSS delisting is expected to set a precedent in upholding civil rights and ensuring journalists are free from undue government scrutiny.
