IPI Nigeria sets agenda for Tinubu on journalists’ safety, media freedom

On the commemoration of the 2023 World Press Freedom Day, the Nigerian National Committee of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) is asking the new government that will be inaugurated in Nigeria on May 29 to commit to creating a better operating environment for journalists and media organisations.

In the past few years, cases of media and journalists’ harassment have been rampant. These violations include arrests, physical attacks, denial of access, threats, equipment damage, equipment seizure, lawsuits and high-handedness and arbitrariness by some agencies of government.

Nigerian journalists are in perpetual danger, and we are urging the incoming government to embrace a new attitude by deliberately improving the operational environment of journalists and the media. There are still a number of oppressive and media-unfriendly laws, such as those on criminal defamation and cybercrime, that need to be amended. The government should also begin widespread sensitisation of its security operatives, who must understand that journalists and the media are key elements of democracy. While state actors, especially state governors, must end intimidation and harassment of journalists, Nigerian politicians and political parties should also desist from the use of online trolls to attack journalists and media organisations for performing their constitutional duties of upholding the people’s right to know and holding governments, individuals and organisations accountable. The incoming administration, to be led by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, must also take deliberate steps to help the sustainability of media outlets while respecting press freedom and freedom of speech.

IPI Nigeria is also concerned that as laudable as the passage of the Freedom of Information Act is, journalists have not been able to fully utilise the law to hold public officials accountable because government officials continue to play pranks to deny them the information they seek.

Section 2 (1) of the Act states, “A public institution shall ensure that it records and keeps information about all its activities, operations and business”. This provision is not being complied with. Specifically, sub-sections 2–4 mandate public institutions to publish public records in different accessible forms for information seekers. This is also not being complied with.

Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution provide for Freedom of Expression and the Press.

Section 22 states that: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people”. Section 39, which is closely related to Section 22, provides that: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.

IPI Nigeria demands that the incoming government commits to the total implementation of the FOI Act. This is because the free flow of information is essential to the survival and growth of democracy. Misinformation and disinformation thrive more robustly when authorities withhold information that ordinarily should be made available to the public.

Sensitization will reduce incessant union strike in Education sector - ABU VC

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bala has said that there must be good planning and sensitization in order to avert the effect of pandemic and unions strike in the Nigerian education sector.

He stated this at the 61st Meeting of the Committee of Provost and Deans of Postgraduate Colleges and Nigerian Universities (CPDPGCS) held at the ABU Postgraduate Auditorium yesterday.

According to him, there must be a serious synergy between the industries in order to exploit means of research on energy.

“whatever we can do from the government and industries, we have to do a very good research in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the research.”

Professor Bala maintained that research and postgraduate studies are going hand in hand which make them very important in the area of educational development.

In her welcome address, the President of the association, Prof. Philomina Ebokwe said that the meeting is aimed at building a strong network between provosts and deans of postgraduate schools in respect of postgraduate studies, which can be used by colleges and postgraduate schools for studies.

The president charged participants to think about how to move forward and how to move postgraduate education forward in Nigeria.

According to her, the 21st Century is characterised by the many challenges of technological advances and globalization that make them compete with world class Universities because we can remain in one place.

She said the theme of the meeting is, ” Paradigm shift in the delivery of Postgraduate studies and research is Nigeria”.

In his remarks, the Dean Postgraduate School Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Sani Abdullahi said the meeting is aimed at finding a lasting solution of issues that is hindering postgraduate students’ programmes when there is striking and pandemic.

Prof. Abdullahi said, the theme of the meeting is apt, considering the compositions of scholars assembled to deliver papers whom he said they will do justice to it.

Accident victims involving Chinese company truck, Shunda, petition IGP

By Musa Baba Adamu

Victims of a 2021 articulated (truck) vehicle belonging to Shunda Nigeria Ventures Limited, a Chinese company, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, seeking for justice.

The victims who wrote the petition through their lawyers, said their action became imperative after refusal of the company to honour its undertaking it made during an understanding brokered by the Police in Riyom, Plateau state.

According to the petition, the accident which occured due to negligence and recklessness of the driver of the Chinese truck claimed the lives of Alhaji Salch Garba and Mr.Joel Yohana, while Mr.Bature Samuel Mr. Hassan Jibrin sustained various degrees of injuries.

The petition to the Police high command dated 8th November, 2022, indicated that the unfortunate incidence occured along Hawan-Kibo, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau state.

It said: “ after series of investigations by the Police at Riyom Police outpost, the said truck driver was arrested and detained pending the conclusion of the investigation and at the end of the investigation it was found that the truck driver was the sole cause of the accident that claimed the lives and properties of our clients.”

It said after initial refusal by the Chinese company’s management to honour Police invitation for a resolution, the company eventually sent a representative at another date during which an understanding was reached but was not being implemented by the company.

“Eventually, Shunda Nig. Entreprise sent a representative through their former MD and at the Police station there was series of deliberations between the parties from both sides and the representative of Shunda Nig. Entreprise who offered to compensate the victims of the accident but left on that day and could not return or do anything ever since.”

Imploring the IGP to look into the matter, the petioners feared that unless the authorities showed more than a passing interest in the matter the company had no interest in keeping its promise to the victims.

It reterated that while two lives were lost as a result of the accident, two other victims had to spend millions of naira in hospital bills to treat themselves.