Governor Mbah Challenges Editors To Go Deeper, Establish Facts And Report Truth

ENUGU State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has challenged Nigerian editors and journalists to go beyond breaking news by investing in investigative journalism and establishing facts before reporting, especially in the era of artificial intelligence.

Mbah made the call on Thursday while welcoming delegates to the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu.

The conference has as its theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.”

The governor said the government and the media had different responsibilities but shared a common obligation to serve Nigerians.

“Government must be transparent about what it is doing and be accountable for the results. The press must establish the facts and report the truth,” he said.

According to him, journalism must be prepared to expose failures when evidence demands it, but should equally report progress when facts demonstrate that progress has been made.

Mbah said the rapid development of artificial intelligence had made rigorous journalism more important because photographs, voices, videos and other forms of content could now be manipulated to create the appearance of reality.

He noted that false information could spread widely before journalists had completed basic verification.

“My challenge to you, therefore, is simple – go deeper,” the governor told the editors.

He said investigative journalism should not be treated as a luxury, urging news organisations to provide journalists with the time and resources required to understand complex issues.

Mbah also cautioned against journalism driven solely by immediate attention or political narratives.

“Rigorous journalism is not about finding evidence to support a position already taken,” he said, stressing that journalists should examine evidence, test competing claims and report their findings independently.

The governor maintained that the same standard should apply to government and its critics.

Mbah said government performance should be subjected to scrutiny, but argued that verified achievements should also receive appropriate coverage.

“Success should not become less newsworthy simply because it doesn’t serve a political narrative,” he said.

He listed several projects which, according to him, formed part of his administration’s transformation programme, including more than 1,500 kilometres of roads constructed or reconstructed, over 7,000 classrooms delivered, Smart Green Schools and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state’s 260 wards.

He also mentioned the restoration of water supply in Enugu City, new transport terminals and CNG buses, Enugu Air, the revival of dormant industries and the development of a new city.

Mbah said the administration’s ambition was to position Enugu as an economic gateway to the South-East and among Nigeria’s leading states in GDP, human development and quality of life.

He acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government, particularly in areas including roads, aviation, energy and regional development.

The governor also said the concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport could further strengthen Enugu’s position as a gateway to the South-East.

He urged the editors to explore Enugu during the conference, speak with residents and businesses, and independently assess the changes taking place across the state.

“Look closely, establish the facts, and tell the story as you find it,” Mbah said.