International Press Institute Opens “Black Book” For Those Attacking Journalists In Nigeria

April 13, 2022

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has said that it will open what it called “black book” for every individual whose action or inaction encourages or allows the harassment of journalists and the media in Nigeria.

President of IPI Nigeria, Alhaji Musikilu Mojeed, during a courtesy visit by the body to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Abuja, said that the move is informed by the worsening press freedom record under the current administration.

A statement by the IPI Nigeria’s Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed I. Shekarau quoted Mojeed as saying that the Nigerian National Committee of IPI had recently resolved to open a ‘black book’ to document every individual whose action or inaction encourages or allows the harassment of journalists and the media in Nigeria.

“The records so gathered will be regularly updated and shared periodically with embassies, and all relevant international and human rights groups across the world.

“We will use the records to ensure named individuals are held accountable one way or another.”

He said that there are many Nigerians who believe the media is freer and stronger in 2015 than it is now, a perception that tallies with at least two global rankings.

According to him, between 2013 and 2015, Nigeria improved on the annual World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

“Nigeria was ranked 115 out of the 180 countries surveyed in 2013, 112/180 in 2014 and 111/180 in 2015. But the reverse has been the case since 2016 when we were ranked 116/180.

“The situation worsened in the succeeding years. The country was ranked 122/180 in 2017, 119/180 in 2018, 120/180 in 2019, 115/180 in 2020 and 120/180 in 2021.

“In fact, the 2021 ranking described Nigeria as ‘one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, who are often spied on, attacked, arbitrarily arrested or even killed’.”

He said that the country is not faring any better in the Freedom in the World Report, an annual report by Freedom House.

“We scored a cumulative 43/100 in the global freedom scores and was ranked a partly free country in the 2022 report, a performance worse than our 2021 showing when we scored 45/100.”

Responding, the minister insisted that Nigeria is one of the very few countries in the world where journalists continued to practice their profession without hindrance despite abuse of press freedom.

“I remember saying at the opening of the 2016 IPI World Congress in Qatar that the government of the day in Nigeria is not a threat to the media, and that it is not about to stifle press freedom or deny anyone his or her constitutionally-guaranteed rights.

“That statement remains true today as it was then. I even told the congress that the Nigerian media have no reason to fear the government, and that — if anything, it is the government that is at the mercy of the media. That, too, remains true today.”

He said that some persons misconstrued the government’s efforts to ensure a responsible use of social media as an attempt to tamper with press freedom or threaten independent journalism.

“We do not harbour such intentions, and that is why we invited stakeholders, including the NUJ and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, to sit down with us to fashion a way forward in this regard.”

He appealed to IPI Nigeria not to relent in its promise to take a holistic look at the issues of fake news, credibility and ethics, among others.

Other members of the IPI Nigeria in the delegation to the minister were the Treasurer of the body, Rafatu Salami; the Managing Director of Triumph newspapers, Lawal Sabo Ibrahim; the Head of Media and Public Relations of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin, and the Features Editor of Peoples Daily Newspaper, Ochiaka Ugwu.

War: Ukraine Attacks Russia, And Russia Threatens To Attack Ukraine’s Command Centres

Editorial staff

April 13, 2022

As Ukraine reportedly attacked Russian territory today, April 13, the Russian military has threatened to strike Ukraine’s command centres in the capital Kyiv if the attacks continue in its territory.

The threat against Ukraine’s high command – including President Volodymyr Zelensky – came after Russian regional authorities claimed gunfire was heard today near a Russian village in a western region that borders Ukraine.

Daily Mail reported that the Russian defence ministry said in a statement: “We are seeing Ukrainian troops’ attempts to carry out sabotage and strike Russian territory.

”If such cases continue, the Russian armed forces will strike decision-making centres, including in Kyiv”.

The threat from Russia is also coming at a time when the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia travelled via train to Kyiv to meet Zelensky.

Recall that, Moscow, which sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24 in what it calls a ‘special military operation’, has accused Ukraine of targeting its border regions.

Russia’s military action has continued to generate wider condemnation from across the world despite numerous sanctions slammed on its economy.

Osinbajo Disowns His Supporter Who Calls Tinubu A Sick Person

Editorial staff

April 13, 2022

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has disowned his supporter, Olugbenga Olaoye, who referred to the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a sick person.

Professor Osinbajo, who had just declared his intention to run for the Presidential election in 2023, the same way Asiwaju Tinubu had also declared, said: “I am not even aware of the so-called Osinbajo Think Tank he purports to represent.”

His spokesman, Laolu Akande, in his official twitter page, quoted the Vice President, saying that Olugbenga does not represent the office of the Vice President nor his campaign team and should be ignored.

The tweet reads: “Indeed this gentleman does not represent the VP nor the Office. His views are completely & totally his own. This particular opinion he has expressed on TV is deplorable and in bad taste.”

Olugbenga, who claimed to be a Co-Convener of ‘Osinbajo Think Thank’ while reacting to the presidential ambition of Tinubu during an interview with Arise TV said that Nigerians do not want another sick president who is constantly going on trips.

He said: “We cannot afford another sick President who will be travelling to London all the time as we currently have, we need someone who is mentally sound. The little time that Osinbajo spent leading FEC was different. Things were moving.”

Insecurity: Presidency Vows To Succeed Where Sponsored Saboteurs Want It To Fail

Editorial staff

April 13, 2022

The Presidency has roles out various new measures aimed at arresting the raging insecurity in the country which it accused unnamed saboteurs of promoting.

“What the sponsored saboteurs aim to show is

that the government cannot provide power sabotaging equipment at switches and other vital points. They will not succeed. The public knows who is who, and who has done what in our country’s governance.

“Massive gains being made will shortly be manifesting. Large number of arrests have equally been made.

“Nigerians are assured that the government will keep its promise to the nation and threats to security will be handled with the firmness they call for. And government will remain firm in securing the country’s unity and progress.”

A presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement today, April 13, said that the Presidency does not wish to be drawn into the high-decibel show in the media, taking the nation by the storm from the Northern Elders Forum.

“Publicity is the oxygen for politicians who have failed to connect with voters in a democracy.

“It is enough to say from our part, that resignation call on of the President is not a solution to the security problems facing the country, something that has built up to a worrisome level following decades of neglect.

“It is more important that citizens know what their government is doing to deal with this situation and for politicians to come to terms with the fact the it is beneficial to all that they help to preserve the state so that when it is their turn, they will have a place that they will manage.”

Garba Shehu said that people don’t have to destroy what is there in a desperate quest to get power, adding that in response to the recent spike in terrorist activity particularly in the Kaduna and Niger States axis, the defense establishment, in response to presidential directives, has realigned and reorganized the ongoing operation in the areas, as well as that going on in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the new operations structures are being reinforced with land-based assets to increase the efficiency of the troops and intelligence is equally being reinforced.

“The air defense system is being reinforced with newly-acquired jets and drones which assemblage and training for operators has been hastened to meet the current exigencies.

“The country is equally getting assurances of early delivery of equipment on order from manufacturers and the effort is ongoing to conclude other major procurements still in process.

“Only this morning, the government at a meeting of the cabinet approved the procurement of the largest ever single procurement of military vehicles.

“At the same time, similar major operations are going in the South-East and the South-South where the economic life wire of the nation and electricity transmission lines are currently being secured from saboteurs.”

Prof Gambari, Mrs. Amina Are Best Nigerians I Ever Worked With – Ex UN Scribe

Editorial staff

April 12, 2022

Former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon

Former secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), Ban Ki-moon has said that Professor Ibrahim Gambari and Mrs. Amina Mohammed are two best Nigerians he had ever worked with in his life.

Gambari is currently Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, and one-time UN Undersecretary General while Amina Mohammed is the current Deputy Secretary General.

A Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said that the former UN secretary-general spoke in a phone call with President Buhari yesterday, April 11.

“He expressed appreciation for the support of two prominent citizens of Nigeria – Professor Ibrahim Gambari, President’s Chief of Staff and one-time UN Undersecretary General, and Mrs. Amina Mohammed, the current Deputy Secretary General – saying that they are among the best he had ever worked with.

“Ban Ki-Moon commended the President for his handling of security and related challenges facing the country.”

This was even as President Buhari also expressed appreciation to Ban Ki-Moon for his support towards the country’s progress.

“President Muhammadu Buhari told the former United Nations Secretary General that Nigeria is in full appreciation for his commitment towards the progress and socio-economic development of Nigeria the country.

“President Buhari reiterated his long-standing respect and admiration for the two-time UN Scribe and thanked him for initiating the call.”

I’m Determined To Be President Of Nigeria, Afterall I Ran For Governorship 4 Times – Atiku

Editorial staff

April 12, 2022

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has expressed his determination to become the President of Nigeria no matter how long it would take.

Atiku, in an interaction today, April 12, with leaders of his support groups from across the country in Abuja, said that he contested for the governorship position four different times before he finally won it in 1999.

“That is politics for you. You have to be determined and be courageous.”

Addressing the leaders of the groups, Atiku said that he was delighted that more young people are participating in politics today and that it is his dream to mentor the young generation and handover his political structure to them.

“It is encouraging that these days I see many young people come to me declaring intentions to run for various political positions, some state assemblies, some national assembly and even some aspiring to be governors.

“The beautiful thing is that this shows that our democracy is being strengthened. I also started early like many of you. I started in my late 30s. During our time, our direction was to fight the military and return the country to civil rule.

“In joining politics, you have to be focused, principled and courageous. For example, I contested for the governorship position four times before I was finally elected. That is politics for you. You have to be determined and be courageous.”

Atiku expressed gratitude to leaders of the support groups for the roles that they played during the 2018-19 election and commended the groups for their discipline and their determination to be better organized than the last outing.

“That we are more organized now is a reflection of the fact that we are now more experienced and with experience comes more knowledge and what that means is that if there was any mistake that we made last time, we are in a better position to avoid such mistakes now.”

CBN Wields Big Stick On 3 Recalcitrant Banks That Violate Rules On crypto

Editorial staff

April 12, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has fined three Nigerian commercial banks for violating its directive on cryptocurrency transactions.

The banks sanctioned are Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and UBA. The three financial institutions were ordered to pay a total fine of ₦800 million.

CBN regulation prohibits banking systems from aiding cryptocurrency dealings by customers. On February 5, 2021, the Apex bank issued a circular instructing all banks to close down customers’ accounts used for any form of cryptocurrency transactions.

Benue Gov Declares War On Fulani Herdsmen, Asks People To Defend Themselves

Editorial staff

April 12, 2022

Governor Ortom delivers speech | Photo credit: Benuepress

“We have been accommodating of other people in our land, but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are free born citizens of Nigeria.”

These were the words of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, as he asked his people to get themselves armed and go out to defend themselves.

The governor, who was reacting to the killing of over 25 persons in fresh attacks on two communities in the state, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen yesterday, Monday night, in a statement by his spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur, directed the people of the state to rise and defend themselves forthwith.

Governor Ortom, who could not hide his anger, said: “it is becoming increasingly glaring everyday that my people are now an endangered species and so we can no longer wait for help from anywhere.

“My people will have to rise up to the occasion to defend themselves and their heritage against the Fulani army of occupation.

“We are law abiding citizens. We have cried for help against these invaders, but nothing is forthcoming. We are left alone and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now we have only one option; to defend ourselves or get extinct. This is a case for our survival.

“We have been accommodating of other people in our land, but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are free born citizens of Nigeria”, the Governor declared.

Governor Ortom nevertheless enjoined security operatives to do more in crime prevention and protection of lives and property in the land, just as he urged the people to cooperate with security agencies to flush out the undesirable elements in the society.

The state government, he said, will not shy away from its commitment to provide welfare and the security for the citizens .

Suspected Fulani herdsmen were said to have invaded Mbadwem in Guma local government area and Tiortyu in Tarka local government area of Benue state, killing the residents.

Atiku Abubakar May Emerge PDP Consensus Presidential Candidate – Saraki

Editorial staff

April 12, 2022

The former Senate President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr. Olusola Saraki, has said that ex-Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is part of the consensus arrangement of some PDP presidential aspirants.

Saraki, who made this known today, April 12 at Umuobiakwa, the home town of the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, said that they have been going around the country to consult widely to ensure that PDP presents a consensus candidate that will enable the party to win the 2023 presidential election.

“We’ve had a good discussion with his Excellency as a key stakeholder in our party and a leader of our party. As you are aware, four of us who are aspirants have been going around consulting.

“We’ve been discussing the consensus for the interest of our party and the country. And the four of us have agreed to support the consensus arrangement to ensure that we unite and put PDP in a position to win the 2023 election because Nigerians are going through hardship.”

He said that insecurity in the country is much, adding that a few days ago, some people lost their lives, which he stated was the reason they decided to unite because the lives of Nigerians are more important than individual ambitions.

“This is the first time this is happening with aspirants coming together. It is a tough challenge and people believe it will not work. We assure Nigerians that we’re very determined.”

Saraki added that they are driven by the determination to turn Nigeria around, stressing that if accepting consensus is the sacrifice they have to make to achieve that, they were ready.

“We’re motivated to hear leaders like Gov Ikpeazu urging us to go ahead. After here, we’re going to meet the Governor of Enugu State and after that, we must have concluded our tour round the 18 Governors of the PDP who all along have shown their commitment to this arrangement.”

Governor Ikpeazu said he is happy and expressed his hope in the emergence of a new Nigeria that has rekindled.

The governor added that the initiative led by the aspirants is quite commendable, adding that their desires to form an alliance will rescue Nigeria beyond the respective selfish interest of anyone.

“I want to say that you have my commitment and cooperation as you move on. And I’ll do my little bit to ensure that all of us come together. I want to encourage all the aspirants wherever they’re coming from to come together and realise that someone needs to be alive to be selfish.”

Governor Ikpeazu said that the only one person will be president, saying he would love the country to have a president who is ready to serve Nigeria emerge, not the one that will serve himself.

The presidential aspirants who visited Ikpeazu included Dr. Olusola Saraki; Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammad; Governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Tambuwal and the former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Dr Mohammad Hayatu-deen.

Why Criminals Want To Try Abuja, Minister Opens Up

Editorial staff

April 12, 2022

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said that criminals would want to operate in Abuja for the purpose of creating negative publicity against the government.

The therefore, minister stressed the need for all the stakeholders to work round the clock to keep the FCT safe through active participation in the Security Committee.

Speaking today, April 12 when a delegation led by the Chief of Defence Space Administration, (DSA), Rear Admiral Nnamdi Muogilim paid him a courtesy visit, Malam Musa Bello said that because of the special place Abuja occupies in the country, he and his team had decided to work very closely with members of the armed forces and other security agencies to make sure that “we prevent crimes.”

The Minister is optimistic that by sharing relevant data gathered with other security agencies, the DSA will further enhance their proactive capacity to combat crime in the FCT.

This was even as he pledged to continue to seek other possibilities of collaboration with DSA for the overall development of the capital city.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Muogilim commended the Minister for his efforts at keeping the nation’s capital safe, saying: “you have maintained security in the FCT. I know that there are issues but most times, the FCT has been kept safe and that’s one of the critical components of leadership; security of lives and properties. So we want to thank you for that.”

He commended th minister for his support, saying: “without your support and encouragement, they would not have done the much they are doing today. We also want to thank you for the value you are adding to the country by making it safe” he added.

He said that the DSA is established in 2014 to use space resources and satellites to advance the frontiers of defence and security, which he said included food security, weather, road safety and fire -fighting through the provision of early warnings.

He offered the services of the DSA for the provision of required critical information and data for the development of the nation’s capital.

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