National Archives | Page 6 of 11

Media Rights Agenda Launches Practical Guide for Journalists

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on Thursday announced the publication and official launch of a comprehensive new guide titled “Leveraging Digital Tools for Journalism Practice,” aimed at equipping journalists and other media professionals with essential knowledge and tools for modern-day reporting, investigation, and storytelling. According to Ms Ayomide Eweje, MRA’s Programme Officer and author of the 164-page guide, the publication identifies and explains how to use dozens of digital tools and technologies that can enhance the work of journalists across the entire gamut of the journalistic process, from news and information gathering, to news processing as well as news and information dissemination while also giving them cutting-edge tools to protect themselves, their sources of information, their devices and other journalistic materials. She said in a statement issued in Lagos that “The publication is a necessary response to the realities of journalism in a rapidly evolving digital age. It offers practical, hands-on information for journalists about various digital tools to enable them effectively navigate today’s fast-paced digital environment, covering tools for news gathering, fact-checking, cybersecurity, multimedia storytelling, audience engagement, countering misinformation and disinformation, online harassment, and surveillance.” Ms Eweje explained that the publication is also intended to equip journalists with the tools they need not just to survive, but to lead and innovate in their profession while safeguarding their rights, protecting their sources of information, and ensuring the integrity of their work.” She noted that over the past two decades, the tools, devices and platforms used in journalism have evolved at an extraordinary pace with the traditional reporting methods, across the entire spectrum of information gathering, processing and dissemination now being augmented by an ever-increasing array of digital tools for real-time communication and collaboration, multimedia storytelling, investigative research, verification and fact-checking, among others. These tools, Ms Eweje said, have boosted the capacity of journalists to report from remote locations, tell more compelling stories, and engage directly with audiences in ways that were previously unimaginable, although at the same time, they have introduced new layers of complexity and threats, forcing journalists to pay more attention to data privacy, online harassment, platform algorithms, and digital literacy as integral parts of their work. She argued that as journalism continues to evolve, so too must the knowledge, skills, mindsets and equipment of those who practice it, and urged journalists to use the guide and other resources to build their digital capacity and leverage all available digital tools and technological devices in all aspects of their professional practice. She also called on media organisations to invest in digital literacy programmes for their journalists and, where necessary, provide them with financial resources to acquire the required facilities, since not all the tools and devices are available free of charge. In the Preface to the publication, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said: “For journalists, the digital era presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges – from the ability to report stories in real time and reach global audiences or even previously marginalised communities, to navigating constantly evolving online threats, including surveillance, online harassment and trolling, hacking and account takeovers, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes, and censorship, among others. Ms Eweje said MRA would make the guide available to media organisations and newsrooms, journalism training institutions, and media development organisations across Nigeria and the continent and also make it accessible on its website.

𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟐 P𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 B𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐣𝐚 A𝐦𝐢𝐝 H𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 S𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Protest has commenced in the Federal Capital Territory to demonstrate against rising hardship and insecurity in the country. Security agencies had earlier deployed heavily armed personnel to strategic locations across the city, including potential protest hotspots. The presence of operatives was particularly noticeable at major junctions and the national Assembly, among other places where the protesters could have gathered. However, the protest, which coincides with Nigeria’s Democracy Day, commenced in the Apo area of Abuja, where demonstrators were seen chanting solidarity songs and waving placards to express their grievances.

Tinubu Cancels National Broadcast

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

President Bola Tinubu has cancelled the previously scheduled nationwide broadcast in commemoration of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary. In a statement on Wednesday, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, attributed the change to President Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday. He added that the president will instead deliver his Democracy Day address directly from the National Assembly chambers. “Due to President Bola Tinubu scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled. President Tinubu will deliver his address from the National Assembly, ” Imohiosen said. He added that other scheduled activities to mark the day will proceed as planned. Earlier, a notice sent to journalists announced the cancellation of the traditional military parade initially scheduled to mark the 26th Democracy Day celebration on Thursday, June 12, 2025. No official reason was given for the cancellation of the military parade. The notice also said the president will also participate in a special joint session of the National Assembly later in the day at 12 noon. The notice, signed by Abdulhakeem Adeoye on behalf of the Director, Information & Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, outlined a revised schedule of events. It read, “The Inter-Ministerial Committee wishes to announce the following developments on the 26th Democracy Day celebration: “1. Presidential National Broadcast on June 12, 2025, at 7 a.m. The committee also directed that the public lecture, which will be held at the State House Conference Centre, will be covered exclusively by accredited State House correspondents.

Wike’s FCTA Seals Off PDP Headquarters

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago65 mins

The headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse area of Abuja has been sealed off. The building was sealed off at about 2:05pm on Monday. Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had arrived at the place and asked the security guard to meet with those in charge, but before the security guards could make contact with the management, the place was sealed. The officials action had triggered protest and after back and forth for like 15 minutes, the building was temporarily unsealed for staff members to move out their cars and personal belongings, after which it was sealed again. Last week, FCTA had announced that it would soon take possession of the 4,794 properties revoked over non-payment of ground rent, for between 10 and 43 years. This was made known during a press briefing on Friday by the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze and Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima. At a press briefing, they had said “ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties. “As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.” The Director of Development Control explained that affected properties would be sealed up and access to them restricted as from Monday. He said the FCTA would decide what to do with the affected properties in due course. On the claim that some people went to court, the Director of Lands stated that there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA was not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties. Nwankwoeze also disclosed that the FCTA was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders that were in default of payment of ground rent for between one and 10 years, who were given a grace of 21 days to pay up. He said the government would act accordingly as soon as the records are fully complied and analyzed. He said “Recall that on March 18, 2025, we informed you of the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts. ”These 4,794 properties were among the total of 8,375 land titles on which ground rent was not paid from one year to 43 years. ”We did say then that consequent upon the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties have reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). ”As from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to take possession of the affected properties, using relevant agencies of government.”

Tinubu Departs for Lagos to Mark 50th ECOWAS Anniversary

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago03 mins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave Abuja on Tuesday for Lagos to celebrate, along with other leaders, the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS golden jubilee was flagged off in Accra last month. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Information & Strategy to the President, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Monday the Lagos events will include reenacting the 1975 declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Victoria Island. At the Eko Hotels and Suites event, President Tinubu, the Chairman of ECOWAS, will highlight the economic bloc’s milestones. The Chairman of the NIIA and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, will review the bloc’s 50-year journey, which panellists at the NIIA will later analyse. The only surviving Head of State who signed the ECOWAS declaration, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), will participate in all the ceremonies and deliver a speech at the Eko Hotels. Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, will deliver the welcome address. While in Lagos, President Tinubu will, on Saturday, May 31, commission some projects of the administration. Among them are Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road, the flag-off of Section II of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, and the 7th Axial Road. The President will virtually commission Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road and Yakasai-Zalli Road and flag off the Kano Northern By-pass, Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I, Dabai-Kafur Malumfashi, and Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section III. President Tinubu will observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House, Dodan Barracks, before returning to Abuja.

SERAP urges NASS to reject bill punishing non-voters.

SERAP Sues CBN Over Failure To Disclose LG Allocations

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago511 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “over the failure to disclose the details of any direct payments to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria including the amounts sent to each council.” SERAP’s suit followed a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court last July, which held that allocations from the Federation Account with the CBN must be paid directly to democratically elected local government councils, and that no governor has the power to keep, control or use the money meant for the councils. In the suit number FHC/L/MSC/521/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the CBN to disclose the details of any direct payments to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria including the amounts sent to each council since the Supreme Court judgment.” SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel the CBN to disclose whether any direct payment has been made from the Federation Account with the CBN to the local government councils in Rivers State and to explain the rationale for any such payment. In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “The CBN should make it possible for citizens to have access to the details of any direct payments to the 774 local government councils to ensure transparency and accountability, and judge whether the CBN and other agencies are complying with the Supreme Court judgment.” SERAP is also arguing that “Granting the reliefs sought would go a long way in promoting the values and principles that underlie the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and are inherent characteristics of an open democratic society.” According to SERAP, “State governors are starving local governments of funds and putting them in peril, despite the Supreme Court’s binding orders. State governors’ blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s orders undermines the integrity of the court and poses a direct challenge to the rule of law.” SERAP is also arguing that, “The CBN ought to act in the public interest to ensure that the 774 councils in the country directly get their own money from the Federation Account, as ordered by the Supreme Court.” SERAP is arguing that, “The CBN also has the constitutional and statutory duty to ensure that no part of the Federation is governed contrary to the Nigerian Constitution or by anybody that is not constitutionally empowered to do so.” The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Oluwakemi Oni, read in part: “The CBN should be facilitating compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders. If state governors get away with ignoring the court, it will undermine the ability of the bank to credibly perform its statutory duties. “States and the FCT have continued to undermine and endanger the existence of local governments and their ability to effectively function as the third tier of government as envisioned under the Nigerian Constitution. “The CBN has a constitutional and statutory duty to protect the allocations in the Federation Account and the public funds disbursed from that Account directly to each of the constitutionally recognized three tiers of government. “The CBN also has the constitutional and statutory duty to protect any tier of the federal governance structure from going extinct or being destroyed. “Local government councils are legitimate owners of their allocations from the Federation Account. “Ensuring that all restrictions against direct disbursement of allocations from the Federation Account to the 774 councils will comply with the orders by the Supreme Court and stop states and the Federal Capital Territory from tampering with the allocations ahead of the 2027 general elections. “States and the FCT no longer have the right to retain the allocations for local governments in the Federation Account as they have persistently failed to use the allocations for the benefit of the local government councils and Nigerians. “The disbursement of the allocations meant for the 774 councils to states would be at the expense of poor Nigerians and continue to undermine the rights and well-being of those at the bottom of the economy and exacerbate the growing poverty in the country. “The CBN could play an important role in revitalising the 774 councils in the country and improving opportunities for Nigerians who reside in those councils. The CBN should not allow states to act in breach of the Supreme Court judgment and do whatever they like with the public funds meant for local government councils. “The CBN has a responsibility to comply with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights and anticorruption obligations in the exercise of its statutory powers and functions “Local government councils are entitled to a direct payment from the Federation Account of the amount standing to its credit in the said Federation Account. States should not be collecting, receiving, spending or tampering with the local government council funds from the Federation Account meant for the benefit of the councils. “The Supreme Court in a groundbreaking judgment declared that the Freedom of Information Act ‘is applicable and applies to the public records in the Federation’, including those kept by the CBN. “By the combined reading of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, applicable throughout Nigeria, there are transparency obligations imposed on the CBN to widely disclose the information sought by SERAP. “The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their public institutions’ activities. “Nigeria’s Supreme Court in the July 2024 judgment declared unconstitutional and unlawful the retaining and using by the 36 state governors and FCT minister of allocations in the Federation Account meant for the 774 local governments in the country. “Following the judgment, the 774 local governments have reportedly opened dedicated accounts with CBN for the direct disbursement of allocations to them from the Federation Account. “Former president Muhammadu…

NNPC Raises Petrol Price to N955 in Abuja, N915 in Lagos

World Bank: SERAP tells NNPCL to Account for Missing N500BN

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago011 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr Bayo Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited “to account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing N500 billion, which the NNPCL failed to remit to the Federation Account, between October 2024 and December 2024, as revealed by the World Bank.” SERAP urged Mr Ojulari “to identify those suspected to be involved, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.” SERAP also urged Mr Ojulari “to invite the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the spending and whereabouts of the N500 billion, and to ensure the full recovery and remittance of the money to the Federation Account without further delay. The World Bank had last week disclosed that out of the N1.1trn revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of N500bn unaccounted for. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also recently called for the subsidy removal savings to be transferred to the national budget. In the Freedom of Information request dated 17 May 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in explaining the whereabouts of the alleged missing N500 billion oil money and grave violations of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]’” SERAP said, “The country’s oil wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations.” According to SERAP, “Nigerians have the right to know why the NNPCL failed to remit the subsidy removal savings to the Federation Account, and why the NNPCL is deliberately denying states and local governments their allocations from the Account, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]” The letter, read in part: “Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing public funds from the NNPCL meant for the economic development of the country. “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the NNPCL to comply with our requests in the public interest. “The missing oil revenue reflects a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and is directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability. “The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding the spending of their commonwealth. “SERAP notes that the Supreme Court in a groundbreaking judgment recently declared that the Freedom of Information Act ‘is applicable and applies to the public records in the Federation’, including those kept by the NNPCL. “SERAP is concerned that the Auditor-General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have for many years documented reports of disappearance of oil money from the NNPCL. “The allegations have undermined economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities. “The failure by the NNPCL to remit the money to the Federation Account is a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption. “Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators. “Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations. “According to our information, the World Bank recently disclosed that out of the N1.1tn revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of N500bn unaccounted for. “The revenue and other income were expected to be paid into the Federation Account and shared by all levels of government but the NNPCL reportedly failed to do so. “SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. “Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. “Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds. “These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected. “Explaining the spending details and whereabouts of the missing N500 billion public funds, identifying those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators. “The missing oil revenue has also impeded Nigerians’ ability to enjoy their economic and social rights, and denied them access to essential public goods and services, especially at the time of cost of living crisis in the country. “The missing oil revenue has further damaged the already precarious economy and contributed to very high levels of deficit spending by the government. “Had the NNPCL accounted for and remitted the alleged missing N500 billion to the Federation Account, it is likely that more funds would have been allocated to the fulfillment of economic and social rights, such as increased spending on public goods and services. “Without the full recovery and remittance of the missing N500 billion of oil revenue, the dire economic situation may worsen and Nigerians will continue to…

JAMB Admits to Technical Glitch In 2025 UTME

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago06 mins

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has admitted that there were errors that affected the performance of candidates during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination held across different centres in the country. The Registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, who made the admission during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, also broke down in tears while admitting to the error. “Once again, we apologise and assure you that this incident represents a significant setback…. We remain committed to emerging stronger in our core values of transparency, fairness and equity. “It is our culture to admit error because we know that in spite of the best of our efforts, we are human; we are not perfect,” Oloyede said as he wiped tears off his eyes with a white handkerchief. He also announced that about 379,997 candidates in the just concluded 2025 exercise would retake the examination. This followed widespread complaints of technical glitches, unusually low scores, and alleged irregularities in the questions and the answers during the exercise. However, in a post on its X handle on Wednesday, the examination body said it established that a technical glitch affected 157 centres out of the 887 centres. This, it said, was responsible for the general low performance of the candidates. It said, “Man Proposes, God Disposes! It has been established that a technical glitch affected 157 centres out of the 887 centres in the 2025 UTME. This was basically responsible for the general low performance of the candidates scheduled to sit the examination in those centres. “As such, all the affected candidates will be contacted to reprint their examination slips towards retaking their examinations starting from 16th May, 2025.” JAMB had released a statistical breakdown of the 2025 UTME, where it revealed that over 1.5 million of the 1.95 million candidates who took the examination scored below 200. In a post on its official X on May 5, it highlighted that a total of 1,955,069 candidates sat for the examination, and of this number, a significant 1,534,654 candidates—representing 78.5 percent —scored below the 200 mark. A breakdown of the results showed that only 4,756 candidates (0.24 percent) achieved scores of 320 and above, while 7,658 candidates (0.39 percent) scored between 300 and 319. In total, just 12,414 candidates (0.63 percent) scored 300 and above. For the 250-299 score range, 73,441 candidates (3.76 percent) were recorded, while a larger proportion, 334,560 candidates (17.11%), scored between 200 and 249. The category with the highest number of candidates was the 160 to 199 range, with 983,187 candidates (50.29 percent). Further down the scale, 488,197 candidates (24.97 percent) scored between 140 and 159, and 57,419 candidates (2.94 percent) scored between 120 and 139. A percentage of candidates, 3,820 (0.20 percent), scored between 100 and 119, while 2,031 candidates (0.10 percent) fell below the 100 mark. In addition to the overall results, JAMB also disclosed that 40,247 underage candidates were allowed to participate in the examination due to their “exceptional abilities.” However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16 percent) achieved scores that met the defined threshold for “exceptional ability.” In 2024, over 1.94 million candidates registered for the UTME, with 1,904,189 candidates taking the examination across 118 towns and more than 700 centres. JAMB also said that only 0.4 percent of candidates who took the 2024 examination scored above 300, while 24 percent scored 200 or higher. JAMB also reported that 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions in the 2025 UTME, while 2,157 others were under investigation for “suspected malpractices.” The board further noted that 71,701 candidates were absent from the examination, and those facing biometric challenges were being investigated. JAMB also noted that those cleared would be rescheduled for examination at designated centres. It added that some results, including those of blind candidates and candidates in the JEOG category, are still being processed and will be released once finalised. JAMB had assured that candidates who faced biometric challenges or were involved in investigations would be given fair treatment, with rescheduling for those cleared.