The traditional role of the press, which is to inform, entertain, and educate, has been faithfully carried out by the press in Nigeria. What is debatable is whether the same press can be said to have lived up to expectations in the role of the watchdog. In other words, is the Nigerian press fulfilling the role of the fourth estate of the realm? As the fourth estate, the press is supposed to act as a powerful, unofficial check on the government, similar to the three traditional estates, namely, the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. It is the business of the press not only to inform the public and shape their opinion but also to hold those in power accountable.

This paper deals with the issues associated with the role of the press to establish how the media in Nigeria has fared in this regard. It points out that whatever gains that were made in the area of press freedom in the early days of Nigeria’s independence came under severe assaults with the military’s incursion into governance. In other words, the roles expected of the press have been hampered in some situations by repressive regimes. The paper details the various assaults suffered by the media in the years of the military. It also underlines the fact that civilian regimes in Nigeria also have their share of excesses, which the press has had to contend with. The constraints and confrontations that the Nigerian Press has had to face during discharging its duty are underlined, particularly in the area of gagging the Press and hounding some practitioners into death. In the face of these harsh operational circumstances, the press has come to wear the garb of a crusader. This crusading role has put governments and authorities on their toes. In this way, it is better able to win the trust of the public.