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NIPR Boss, Dr. Neliaku Reviews GOCOP’s Book On Nigeria Media Renaissance, June 17

President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, is set to review a book put together by the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and scheduled for public presentation in Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, next week, June 17.
The book is titled: “Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspectives on Online Publishing.”
GOCOP President, Maureen Chigbo, who confirmed the details of the event, said that the presentation will be chaired by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi.
She said that the event will also serve as a fundraiser for the N2.3 billion GOCOP MEDIA CENTRE, a multi-purpose resource centre featuring a secretariat, 21st-century library, and event halls.
Maureen Chigbo described the book reviewer, Dr. Neliaku, as an accomplished public relations expert, author and public speaker. He had once served as Chairman of Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of NIPR; and held notable positions, including Senior Special Assistant to the President from 2010 to 2015.
Maureen Chigbo said that Guild of Corporate Online Publishers is out to promote professionalism in online publishing and uphold fundamental journalism principles, adding that with 120 corporate publishers as members, the Guild would continue to uphold the highest standards of online journalism.

Tinubu To Wike: Don’t Mind Busybody, Bystanders; Continue With Your Good Job

“Don’t pay attention to the busybody and the bystanders and whatever they say. Continue to do your good work. You are a transformational leader. You have the foresight, the vision and determination to succeed. Thank you very much.”
These were the words of President Bola Tinubu today, June 10, when he commissioned the newly rehabilitated International Conference Centre (ICC). The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike, under whose leadership the ICC was given a facelift, renamed it “Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.”
President Tinubu recalled his previous visit to the facility for an ECOWAS Parliament conference, describing its then-dilapidated state as an “embarrassment” and a stark reflection of decline.
According to the President, minister Wike had fulfilled his promise of completing the project before now.
The President stressed his commitment to renewing infrastructure across key sectors in the country, including transportation, healthcare, education, energy and urban development.
This was even as Nyeson Wike said that the ICC was built in 1991, and that it had suffered neglect over time.
He said that it was President Tinubu’s direct order for its renovation, born out of his disappointment with its then-poor condition, that spurred the rapid eight-month transformation.
“Without your (President Tinubu’s) leadership, it wouldn’t have been possible. You are not the only President who has been here; so many presidents have come here and none said this is not what Nigeria needs.
“You gave a marching order that this is not the quality to show that Nigeria is the giant of Africa.
“Today, this Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre can match any other international conference centre in the world.”

Why Many Saudi Men Don’t Marry More Than One Wife, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

The title of this piece can be regarded as a question, as in why many Saudi Arabian men don’t marry more than one wife? Or an enlightening one for those who have no idea why this is so.
On the point of question, I have always wondered why the citizens of the country from where Islam sprouted kind of distanced themselves from polygamy, which is one of the essential ingredients of the religion.
To start with, the Holy Qur’an, chapter 4 verse 3 states unequivocally thus: “…Marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you will not deal justly, then (marry) only one…” Take note that the verse starts with two wives, then moves to three, then to four and ends with one on the basis of “if you fear…”
Even Prophet Muhammad (May the Peace of Allah be with him), whose footsteps Muslims are supposed to follow (Hadith) had many wives; a sign to ideal Muslims to do as he did.
And out of worry and curiosity, I went to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and asked the same question, and on the point of enlightenment, the following points came out:
Marriage in Saudi Arabia is expensive, including dowries (mahr), housing, and other expenses.
Supporting multiple households is financially burdensome, especially with rising living costs.
The government has reduced subsidies, and many Saudis now live on fixed or moderate incomes.
Saudi Arabia doesn’t ban polygyny, but regulations now require men to declare and justify their intent to marry another wife. Men should prove their financial ability and equitable treatment.
This makes the process more bureaucratic and scrutinized than before.
Modern Saudi women are more educated and financially independent. Many are strongly opposed to polygyny and would not accept being a second wife.
Divorce is more common when men pursue another wife, discouraging the practice.
Managing multiple emotional relationships is difficult. Men fear family conflict, jealousy, and disruption of existing stable households.
It can negatively impact children and family dynamics.
While polygyny still exists in rural areas and among older generations, it is relatively rare in urban centers like Riyadh and Jeddah.
Surveys and data from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states suggest that fewer than 10% of married men have more than one wife.
Of course, although Islam allows polygyny, it does not command it, and the conditions for doing it justly are strict.
Therefore, in modern Saudi society, economic hardship, social resistance, legal oversight, changing values amongst others, have all contributed to monogamy being the norm, especially among younger generations.
Despite these AI narrations, and even because of such narrations, one is still left with a feeling as to why over jealousy amongst women should be part of the reasons for the largely monogamous life in Saudi Arabia, and why should economic hardship be the basis for men to distance themselves from polygamy?
As a matter of fact, I remember a highly educated middle aged Saudi Arabian, who told me when I was in that country for hajj in 2015 that he had the desire to marry more than one wife but could not because of the high cost of marriage. He said a man would have to build a mansion for the would-be wife, buy different colours of gold and others for her before the marriage.
According to him, if the same man wants to marry another wife, he would have to do the same thing: build a house and others for her. That is to say that one would have to build house in different place for each wife.
He also talked about over jealousy of the Saudi women and prohibitive conditions and regulations of the government.
Indeed, it still doesn’t make religious sense to me that negative indices, including even the government regulations would be placed in the ways of one of the highly recommended religious acts, that was freely practiced by the beloved Prophet.
We cannot pretend by redesigning what Allah ordained and practiced by His prophet, just for our own convenience. The danger being created by such act is the breeding of female children who will grow up to find it difficult to marry in future. Though out of 34.6 million population of Saudi Arabia today, females account for about 14 million, there is growing possibility that number of females will subsequently level up, and eventually outnumber the males.
I still feel that Saudi Arabia is not playing its proper role in this regard, being the citadel and foundation of Islamic religion. To it should the rest of the Islamic world look up for ideal Islamic life and living. But…

It’s A Lie, My Husband Was Not Involved In Annulment Of June 12 Election – Mrs. Abacha

Mrs. Hajiya Maryam Sani Abacha has put to lie, claim in some quarters that her late husband, General Sani Abacha was part of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
The June 12 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by late Chief MKO Abiola, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land in the Southwest, was annuled by the government of the military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Answering questions in an interview on TVC, Maryam Abacha blamed other actors in government at the time for making the decision.
According to her, attributing such a defining national decision to Abacha unnecessarily bloated Abacha’s authority to unrealistic levels.
She expressed regret that Nigerians easily fall hook, line and sinker to lies that were being spinned by the people in government.
Such other lie, she said, is the “looting script.”
“I pray for Nigerians. I pray for all of us. I pray that we should have goodness in our hearts. We should stop telling lies and blaming people.
Maryam outrightly dismissed allegations leveled against her late husband of looting Nigerian treasury while in power.
According to her, the financial controversies that have been woven around her husband were misunderstood, insisting that no money was embezzled during his administration.
Funds, popularly referred to as the “Abacha loot,” have been recovered from Switzerland, America and Britain and used for various social investment programs.
Maryam Abacha insisted that there has never been evidence presented over a period in which her husband was in charge of the affairs of the country to prove charges of financial impropriety.

…Mrs Maryam Abacha
She challenged credibility of publicly mentioned witnesses and documents.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?.
“Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad? And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that.”
She said that charges against her husband might be a result of deeper social cleavages, including ethnic as well as religious biases.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian, or somebody is nice or… It’s not fair.”

NNPCL’s Femi Soneye Wins Champion Newspapers’ 2024 Media Manager Award

Soneye, left, receives the award plaque.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Olufemi Soneye, has emerged the Champion Newspapers’ 2024 Media Manager of the Year.
This feat is coming a few months after he also won another Laurette, and it stands as a testament to his exceptional skill and leadership in elevating strategic communication and stakeholder engagement within NNPC Limited.
A statement today, June 9, from the NNPCL’s communication department said that the award ceremony was held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos on Saturday and was attended by notable dignitaries, including Mr. Ernest Ebi, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He presented the award insignia.
The statement said that the award demonstrated Femi Soneye’s outstanding contributions to the field of public relations, showcasing his prowess and potential in shaping public opinion and navigating complex communication challenges.

…Soneye is second from right
“Femi Soneye’s impressive track record is a reflection of his passion, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
“With a rich background in journalism and extensive experience in media and communications, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to craft compelling narratives and manage crises with finesse.
“His dedication to transparency, professionalism, and effectiveness in strategic communication has earned him recognition across the industry.
“This achievement is not Soneye’s first; he was recently crowned the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Spokesperson of the Year 2025 in Abuja.
“As a former President of the Nigerian Media Practitioners, Washington, D.C., and a member of reputable bodies such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the National Association of Black Journalists, as well as Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Femi Soneye’s credentials are truly impressive.
“His membership of these esteemed organizations is a reflection of his commitment to professionalism and excellence in his field.”

President Tinubu’s Media Aide Resigns

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Media Aide, Aliyu Audu has turned in his resignation letter.
Aliyu Audu, who until his resignation, was the President’s Senior Special Assistant on
Public Affairs, said he would not want be part of one-part system which Tinubu’s government is sliding into.
The resignation was dated June 8, 2025 and was submitted through the office of the president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Aliyu Audu thanked Ajuli Ngilale, who also technically resigned as Special Adviser on media and publicity to President Tinubu last year, for nominating him for the position.
He also thanked the president for considering him worthy to serve in his government, pledging his support even outside the government.

76 Year Old Retired Army Officer Dies In Kidnapers’ Enclave, After N10 Million Ransom Payment

A 76 year old retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, who was kidnapped from his home in Odo-Ape, in Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State a few weeks ago, had died in captivity.
Report reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that Ajayi’s lifeless body was found by his family after paying a ransom of ₦10 million for his release.
The kidnappers abducted Major Ajayi from his house on May 21, 2025, at about 11:30 pm after firing several gun shots indiscriminately.
It was learnt that the initial ransom demand of ₦50 million by the kidnappers persisted for an extended period as the family was unable to make up the amount, even as their captor relapsed into health challenge with no access to necessary medication.
It was also reported that the kidnappers communicated to the family that their request for his medication to be sent to him would incur an additional charge, a concession that the family could not afford.
It was learnt that when the kidnappers realised that Ajayi’s health condition was deteriorating, they lowered the ransom to ₦10 million naira.
A source hinted that Ajayi family, under the impression that he was still alive, promptly consented to pay the reduced amount of ten million naira for his release.
“Once the ransom was paid, the kidnappers directed the family to where they would find him, only for them to meet his (Ajayi’s) lifeless body.”
The remains of the retired army officer have been deposited in the mortuary of Kabba Specialist Hospital.
Source: Vanguard.

Security Situation Deteriorating In Borno; Boko Haram Fighters Move Freely – Senator Ndume

Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Ali Ndume, has lamented the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Borno State and Nigeria in general.
In an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ yesterday, June 8, Senator Ndume said: “the situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly.
“Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis.”
The senator said that Boko Haram Insurgents are so bold now that they are targeting high-value equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns.
He said that in some cases, the insurgents not only destroy these assets but also cart away weaponry and equipment.
He expressed worry that violent conflict, banditry and sabotage have extended across the country, saying: “all six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges in varying degrees.
“Even in the South-South, we are grappling with economic sabotage like oil theft. At this point, the South-West appears to be the only relatively safe region.”

I Pay More Tax To Nigeria Than All Banks Put Together, Dangote Boasts

President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has boasted that his group of companies have paid a combine total of N450 billion in taxes to the Nigerian Federal Government in 2024.
According to him, the amount he paid in tax has ranked his group as the highest tax-paying one in Nigeria.
Speaking to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, Dangote stressed that the companies have therefore contributed more in taxes than all the country’s banks combined.
He said that apart from paying N450 billion in taxes last year, the Group is committed to spending additional N900 billion on road infrastructure across Nigeria.
He said that the Deep-Sea Port Access Road is one of several roads that has been built and being developed by the Dangote Group under the Federal Government’s tax credit scheme.
According to Dangote, the Deep Sea Port Access Road is “one of eight major road projects totalling 500 kilometres, including two in Borno State that will eventually link Nigeria to both Chad and Cameroon.”
He described President Tinubu as a courageous leader whose administration has revived investors’ confidence in the private sector.
He also thanked the President for envisioning and implementing the Lekki Deep Sea Port project and assured him of the private sector’s support for expanding infrastructure nationwide.
Dangote said that the road leading to the state-of-the-art Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals will be named Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road, in his honour.
“The Dangote refinery complex is, in many ways, your brainchild. Mr President, let me just say one thing — the main road leading into our refinery is now to be known as Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road.”
The President responded by shaking hands with Dangote in a moment, drawing applause from the dignitaries in attendance.

National Identity Verification: Police Service Commission Lied – NIMC

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has described as misleading information the story coming from the Police Service Commission (PSC), about its inability to access verification service platforms.
A statement today, June 5, by the NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications Unit, Dr. Kayode Adegoke made it clear that all its verification service platforms are functional and accessible to all partners, including all security agencies.
“The Commission is aware of the purported ‘inability of the Police Service Commission (PSC) to access the NIMC verification server.
“This information is not only misleading but also inaccurate.

“To set the record straight, the NIMC granted verification access to all Nigerian Police formations for the verification of the National Identification Number (NIN).
“The NPF, PSC and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years. “NIMC has provided top-notch verification services for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, as conducted by the PSC and at no time have there been any complaints or issues regarding NIN Verification by the NPF or PSC.
“The Commission has a robust and harmonious working relationship with the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission. “The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) department of the Nigeria Police Force is actively managing the long-standing verification and integration service between the NIMC and all Nigeria Police formations.
“NIMC will continue to provide flawless verification services for the purpose of recruitment, security mapping, cybercrime control, and any other security matters.The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and NPF has confirmed the verification services have continued to be available.
“We therefore believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters. “NIMC is committed to providing excellent verification services to the PSC, NPF and all its partners but the terms and conditions inherent must be adhered to for uninterrupted flow of service.”

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