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Tag: Journalist

  • Bauchi govt hails Journalists reporting health for development

    Bauchi govt hails Journalists reporting health for development

    …, praises USAID-IHP for building capacity

    From Shola Kanji, Bauchi

    Journalists committed to health reportage in Bauchi state under a CSO known as Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) have been commended for providing Indepth reportage of the health sector of the state.

    Such reportage is said to have created an enabling environment for positive improvement of healthcare services delivery through construction and upgrading of health facilities and uptake.

    The assertion was made by the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sabiu Abdul Gwallabe during a one day media event on the implementation of the formal sector of the state contributory health scheme organized by USAID-IHP for Journalists held on Tuesday at Hazibal Suites, Bauchi.

    Represented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ali Babayo Gamawa, the Commissioner said that though there are challenges with regards to human resources, the government is doing its best to bridge the gap through regular advertising for recruitment.

    The Commissioner commended USAID-IHP for supporting the state government in capacity building of its health personnel as well as infrastructure development for effective service delivery.

    He assured that with CSOs like J4PD working in the state, there will be no much problem continuing with the USAID-IHP programme anytime the partnership ends.

    In her remarks, the Coordinator of J4PD, Ms Elizabeth Nange Kah reiterated the commitment of members of the CSO to reporting the health sector of the state in order to ensure positive action by government.

    She commended USAID-IHP for building the capacity of members of the J4PD which has improved their skills and technical knowledge of reporting health issues for development.

    The J4PD Coordinator urged the participants to use the opportunity given to them to understand the contributory scheme in order to be able to mobilize the public to embrace the scheme.

    In his welcome remarks, Health Financing Advisor of USAID-IHP, Pharmacist Khalid Kasimu said that the aim of the meeting was to appreciate the success recorded in the implementation of the formal sector enrollment of the scheme.

    He stressed the importance of Journalists in achieving the set objectives of the scheme through constant reporting and advocacy which will lead to more enrollment in the state.
    End

  • Police arrests ‘Journalists’ for buying rice with fake bank transfer

    Police arrests ‘Journalists’ for buying rice with fake bank transfer

    The Kano State Police Command has arrested two men, who claimed to be journalists, for allegedly defrauding a rice trader of N33,000.

    The 30-year-old suspects, Mujahid Kabir and Abba Imam, were alleged to have, on February 2, 2023, generated a fake bank transfer alert of N33,000 to buy a bag of rice at a Plaza at Sharada Quarters, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Kano State

    The state police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said, “On 2nd February 2023 at about 1700hrs, a report was received from the Manager of a Plaza at Sharada Quarters, Kano Municipal LGA, Kano State that, two people went to their Plaza, purchased a bag of rice at N33,000 and generated a fake bank transfer alert to them.

    “On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command CP Mamman Dauda, psc(+) raised and instructed a team of detectives led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, Divisional Police Officer, Sharada Division to arrest the culprits.

    “The team immediately proceeded to the scene and arrested the two suspects while trying to escape, one Mujahid Kabir, “m”, 30 Years old, of Ahmadu Bello Way and Abba Imam, ‘m’, 30 years old, of Zoo Road Kano. On spot search, the suspects were found in possession of Vision FM Personnel Identity Cards.

    “On preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to having gone to Vision FM Radio station Kano, stole two personnel Identity Cards and made fake copies bearing their names and photographs. They further confessed to having gone to the said plaza at Sharada Quarters, bought a bag of rice and made a fake transaction with the cashier.

    “The Commissioner of Police directed the case to be transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation. Suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”

    The CP advised residents to be wary of fraudsters and scammers, secure their bank details and report suspicious transactions to their banks.

  • No excuse for Chinese police beating journalists – UK minister

    No excuse for Chinese police beating journalists – UK minister

    British business Minister, Grant Shapps, said on Monday that there was no excuse for media covering protests to be beaten by police.

    Shapps said this when BBC earlier on Sunday alleged that Chinese police had assaulted and detained one of its journalists in Shanghai.

    “There can be absolutely no excuse whatsoever for journalists who are simply covering the protests going on, to be  beaten by the police. I know that’s a considerable concern,” Shapps told Sky News.

    Shanghai is one of a number of Chinese cities that have seen protests over stringent COVID restrictions, which flared in recent days following a deadly fire in the country’s far west.

  • INEC urge Journalist to abstain from sensational reportage

    INEC urge Journalist to abstain from sensational reportage

    Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked journalists to avoid sensational reportage before and during the 2023 elections.

    Okoye made the call at a one-day workshop for journalists in the South-East organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    The theme of the workshop is:”Conflict Sensitive Reporting and the 2023 General Election’ in Abakaliki.

    He noted that the media, plays a critical role in the electoral and governance process and must shun sensational and inflammatory reports.

    “The role of the media in the political and electoral process is fundamental given the centrality of the media in the electoral and democratic health of the country.

    “Sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as the right to freedom of expression and the press.

    “In the same vein, Section 22 provides that the press, radio, television and other agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives and principles contained in Chapter II of the Constitution.

    “The press must hold the government responsible and accountable to the people.

    “These are weighty responsibilities that demand the media and its practitioner’s professionalism, ethical conduct and attention to the overall interest of the nation.

    “Democracy thrives with effective information flow and it is axiomatic that true democracy cannot exist without effective information flow,” Okoye said.

    He noted that the work of the commission and the conduct of electoral business has national security implications.

    “This implies that reporting elections needed to be handled with an eye on conflict sensitivity, national peace and cohesion.

    “Reporting elections requires special skills and understanding of the centrality of election to Nigeria’s survival as a federal democracy.

    ” This is simply because one false report that goes viral may have the potential of triggering a breakdown of law and order in a part or the whole of the country.

    ” It is in the interest of the country for the media to always seek official clarifications on germane and serious national issues, especially when electoral matters are involved.

    “Delivering on free; fair, peaceful, safe and credible elections are seen and viewed as a shared responsibility and partnership between agencies, commissions and branches of government and in this multi-stakeholders venture, no one should be left behind,” he added.

    Okoye stressed the need for the media to hold a balance between all the contending parties; candidates and ensure balanced, fair and objective reports of the activities of all political parties.

    “Section 95(2) of the Electoral) Act, 2022 is categorical that State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.

    “And section 95 (3) of the Act also provides that media time shall be allotted equally among the political parties or candidates at similar hours of the day.”

    He urged the journalists to shun the temptations of the ‘breaking news’ syndrome and warned that it remained an offence for journalists to announce election results not certified by the commission.

    “As the country moves closer to the 2023 general election, there are obvious landmines that the media must avoid.

    “The media must avoid the breaking news syndrome; some of the mainstream media are gradually gravitating towards online journalism with the attendant quest for breaking news, which is sometimes not properly verified and processed.

    “The media must be circumspect in casting headlines and the thirst for sensational headlines since sometimes, people look at the headlines and draw conclusions,” he added.

    Also speaking, Mr Chris Isiguzo, National President of NUJ, commended INEC for providing an opportunity to discuss issues bordering on the 2023 elections.

    He said that the union would continue to work with INEC to ensure that democracy worked properly in Nigeria.

    “For us as media professionals, we see it as our cardinal objective to promote democracy, and development. The media which is regarded as the fourth estate of the realm is an essential factor in the process of democracy.

    ” It is an incontrovertible fact that the indispensable functions of the media cannot be performed without guaranteed safety of journalists and media workers,” Isiguzo said.

    Isiguzo, represented by Mr Shuibu Leman, NUJ National Secretary, noted that the media will continue to make governments accountable and also mobilise the populace to participate in the process of governance and development.

  • Crude Oil Theft: Govt is helpless, top officials deeply involved, says renown journalist, Akugha, who reports in Niger Delta +photos

    Crude Oil Theft: Govt is helpless, top officials deeply involved, says renown journalist, Akugha, who reports in Niger Delta +photos

     

    The executive producer of the acclaimed television and radio series, Inside The Niger Delta, Mamode Akugha says the Federal Government is helpless in the fight against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
    Over One billion US dollars worth of crude was stolen from Nigeria in the first quarter of this year. Akugha said crude theft is the biggest single business in Nigeria today.
    Akugha was speaking during an anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.
    He lamented that for every 100 barrels of oil crude produced, Nigeria loses 91 to oil thieves, leaving the Federal Government of Nigeria with only 9 barrels, leading to huge losses in revenue and fueling the illegal refinement of some of the stolen crude oil in the Niger Delta region
    Akugha said top military officers and community members were involved in the illegal business and urged the government to restructure the security architecture in the Niger Delta region and organize and set up modular refineries to curb the widespread oil theft and illegal refining of petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.
    The menace of oil theft had become a national disaster and a severe threat to Nigeria’s revenue base, and it is now said to be losing crude oil at the level of about 91 percent of output. Furthermore, a recent investigative report by Premium Times revealed that residents of Port Harcourt and environs risk health problems due to soot pollution.
    Akugha called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to change security strategies and stop the involvement of the military personnel in the booming oil theft business in the oil-rich region.
    He emphasized that the menace of oil theft continues to thrive due to corruption and complicity of military personnel and senior government officials, stressing that redeeming Nigeria from oil thieves can only be possible if the government rejigs the security architecture in the Niger Delta and stop military officials from getting involved.
    “The military is the ones who sell black (crude oil) to the boys, and the boys take it back to their camps and refine it. Some refine, some do bagging, some do the loading, and eventually, some coordinate the tankers that come in. This is happening in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Ondo, and Imo. It’s happening in every single place where you have oil production.”
    Asked what the government must do to tackle oil theft, Akugha said: “The right thing is just ensuring that our entire security architecture is overhauled.
    “These military guys have tasted this thing; it’s going to be so challenging to take it out of them. They are so corrupt now. In the Niger Delta, the military is a big problem.
    “It’s not that the FG does not know the involvement of their people. Governor Nyesom Wike has even pointed direct fingers at some people. He named a commander of an army formation in Port Harcourt directly responsible for oil bunkering, but what has the Federal Government done about that? So they need to overhaul their security strategy and remove the military from involvement in oil theft.
    Akugha advised the Buhari administration to jettison importation of petroleum products by organizing individuals in the Niger Delta region to run illegal refineries and establishing modular refineries, which will, in turn, reduce the burden of subsidy payment and loss of foreign exchange by the nation.
    “The government should go to the Niger Delta; What they are producing locally in diesel production now is even better than what is imported. Let them get these boys into cooperatives, support them, set up modular refineries, and let us forget about importing petroleum products from outside Nigeria and save that forex so the naira can improve,” Akugha stated.
    Earlier, a journalist with Premium Times, Chiamaka Okafor, noted that residents of Port Harcourt and its environs are in grave health danger following the soot pollution. She said that indigenes of communities she visited were the ones operating the illegal refineries, adding that unemployed university graduates are sorting to oil bunkering and illegally refining crude oil in the Niger Delta region.
    Despite identifying the lack of political will as a major challenge of the government in tackling the menace of oil theft, Okafor urged President Buhari-led government to live up to its billing regarding stamping out oil theft and soot pollution in oil-producing states.
    “For every problem in Nigeria, it is not the absence of the government knowing what to do but the lack of political will. So the onus lies on the government, and if there is no political will, we are back to ground zero, and that’s where we’ve been all this while.
    Last week, President Buhari vowed to increase security across the country to try to stamp out widespread oil theft after the supertanker, MV Heroic Idun, with a capacity of three million barrels, was seized by the navy of Equatorial Guinea, days after fleeing Nigeria.
    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.
    The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

  • Ben Obumselu memorial lecture: Prof Osundare, Adichie Chimamanda, Oloyede to deliver lectures

    Ben Obumselu memorial lecture: Prof Osundare, Adichie Chimamanda, Oloyede to deliver lectures

     

    World renown author, Adichie Chimamanda, Professor Niyi Osundare , Dele Oloyede and others will deliver lectures at the fifth memorial anniversary of Late Ben Obumselu on Thursday.

    Obumselu’s children have organized a memorial lecture series, the first of which will be a virtual event in commemoration of his fifth memorial anniversary.

    It will be held online on ZOOM at 4pm Nigeria time, on Thursday, August 25, 2022.

    The keynote speaker is the renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, supported by the Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist and Editor Dele Olojede, Poet and Writer Prof. Niyi Osundare, Human Rights Activist Ayo Obe and many others.

    We do hope that you may find the time to participate in the event.

    Click Here to Register – https://bit.ly/3QMvasp

    See article in Vanguard of today – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/chimamanda-adiche-headlines-inaugural-ben-obumselu-memorial-lecture/

    Kind Regards
    Nneka Obiamalsulu

  • Osinbajo declined Obasanjo’s offer to become AGF in 2005–Ogunsakin

    Osinbajo declined Obasanjo’s offer to become AGF in 2005–Ogunsakin

    Mustapha Ogunsakin, a veteran journalist, has disclosed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declined former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s offer to become Attorney-General of the Federation in 2005.

    Ogunsakin’s revelation, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja, following mixed reactions over Osinbajo’s declaration to run for the post of president in 2023.

    There have been personal attacks on the vice president by some political opponents trying to brand him a betrayer because of his presidential ambition.

    “In 2005, President Obasanjo invited Osinbajo to take appointment as the Attorney-General of the Federation after Chief Akin Olujimi left office.

    “Obasanjo saw the sterling qualities and performance that Osinbajo had as Attorney General of Lagos.

    “ The president without informing Bola Tinubu, the then Lagos State Governor, offered the post to Osinbajo who was then Lagos State Attorney-General.

    “ The first thing Osinbajo did was to inform his principal, Tinubu, who gave him a free hand to take his decision,” Ogunsakin said.

    He said that Osinbajo made a request to Obasanjo to release Lagos State Council funds.

    ” Obasanjo replied that Osinbajo should first take the appointment and then advise him as Attorney-General of the Federation on the matter.

    “Osinbajo went underground and for weeks Obasanjo could no longer reach him.

    “It was obvious to the then president that Osinbajo deliberately avoided him; he went on to appoint Chief Bayo Ojo as his Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    “Osinbajo rejected the position of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and stayed with Tinubu; nobody complained then,” he said.

    Ogunsakin said Osinbajo not only stood with Tinubu, but stayed loyal to Lagos State, adding that ” he did not betray Tinubu then.’’

    He cautioned those calling Osinbajo a betrayer.

    “But now when it is convenient for them, some political and religious bigots are shouting betrayal!

    “Everyone knows that if you want to hear the story of how your father met your mother, join politics,” he said.

    He urged anyone criticising Osinbajo over his presidential ambition to do so based on valid facts and ” not lazy, religious and political lies that reveal your foolishness and hatred for a man who is doing his best to make his country and people better.”

  • Hoodlums attack radio,TV stations in Abuja, injure journalist

    Hoodlums attack radio,TV stations in Abuja, injure journalist

    Hoodlums in Abuja have reportedly bombarded the premises of privately owned Liberty Television and radio station located in jabi.

    It was gathered that a journalist Muhammad Sani Yusuf Nassarawa who plies his trade with the outfit was allegedly injured by the rampaging hoodlums.

    Findings show that the hoodlums after injuring the journalist, took to their heels, whilst the injured journalist was being rushed to the hospital

    He said, trouble started on Tuesday when the developer who owned a business plaza nearby, invited personnel of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) to remove some kiosks there.

    “Thugs came back in the early hours of Thursday cutting off flower plants attached to our building, and also poured oil on any available space that one can stay around.

    “Then around 6pm, they returned when we were about to break our fast, harassing staff members on sight, which led to the injury to one of our colleagues on the head.”He said

    The Life Camp Police Division in Abuja, claim ignorance of the matter, the FCT police spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh mentioned that they have not been briefed on the incident.

     

     

  • Prince Emeka Obasi, an outstanding journalist – Ibori

    Prince Emeka Obasi, an outstanding journalist – Ibori

    Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the former Delta State Governor has described the death of Prince Emeka Obasi who died Tuesday 15th March as a great loss to the nation.

    He said that Emeka Obasi was not only a journalist but a man of many parts; an excellent and fearless reporter and uncommon essayist who spiced his columns with little known facts, histrionics and captivating drama. He had a knack for facts, names, dates and figures, which made his writings very educating.

    Ibori said that Nigerian journalists should have much to emulate in Obasi’s life as he combined his journalism with the business aspect of being a publisher, founding at least two enduring newspaper houses as well as other businesses on the side lines.

    Ibori said that Emeka Obasi had candor, confidence, fearlessness andpanache. He said that Nigerian journalism will greatly miss him as the vacuum his death has caused will be difficult to fill. As Ibori consoled his family, he prayed that God would grant his soul eternal rest.

  • I’m still in office, no plans to resign yet – Malami tells journalists

    I’m still in office, no plans to resign yet – Malami tells journalists

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday told journalists that he has no plans to resign yet as reported by media houses recently.

    The AGF made this disclosure at the annual media conference organised by the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) held in Abuja.

    The Minister said: “Some unprofessional information disseminators will be taken aback that the Malami that was claimed to have resigned was seen in office discharging his functions including attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday (Wednesday), granting interviews to journalists and still today (Thursday) declaring this conference open as the AGF”.

    He appealed to journalists to refrain from “fake news, defamation, sedition, hate speech, blasphemy, and incitements of inflammatory statements in their reportage.”

    He also urged against being conscripted by “agents of destruction” to spread false information about personalities and issues.

    He warned there would be consequences for the conduct of the journalists that offer themselves to used “by agents of destruction that make it their stock in trade to spread fake information about personalities and issues.”

    “Effective legislative framework may be a considerable option. It is high time that we enhance media literacy for Nigerians to appreciate fact-checking and verification of information”, the Minister stated.

    The Conference, with the theme “The Judiciary and 2023 General Elections: The Way Forward”, and “Stemming the Tide of Conflicting Judgments in Nigeria’s Judicial System, Enforcement of Court Judgments: The Obstacles, the Remedies” as Sub-themes, he said, was intended to enhance the skill of Judiciary Correspondents and facilitate effective discharge of their responsibilities as journalists and important members of the society.

    The AGF said, it has been the desire of the Federal Government to tame the tide of conflicting judgments and implore due diligence in the judicial process.

    “Our struggles in the P&ID case symbolize the due diligence policy of the Federal Government as well as the need to address judgment debt in the interest of the Nigerian public. This has been our position on a number of current national issues”.

    The AGF’s office, he said, always insists on “due diligence, assiduous scrutiny as well as beyond-reasonable-doubt exploration and meticulous examinations in our policy to bequeath the posterity a sound and impeccable precedents in determination of issues. It is unfortunate that these legally recognized processes that we strive to strictly adhere to are misconstrued by mischievous publications to convey negative undertones”.