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• November 2, 2025
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NUJ seeks end to attacks, impunity against journalists

As the world marks 2025 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Council, has again called on government authorities, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the safety, protection and dignity of media practitioners in Nigeria. In a statement issued in Abuja
NUJ seeks end to attacks, impunity against journalists

As the world marks 2025 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Council, has again called on government authorities, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the safety, protection and dignity of media practitioners in Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Secretary of the Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, condemned all forms of violence and intimidation targeted at journalists, describing them as an assault on democracy and freedom of expression.

According to the Council, this year’s observance of the Day is a solemn reminder of the continuing threats, harassment and violence faced by journalists in the line of duty, and the alarming lack of accountability for those responsible for such crimes.

It expressed deep concern that attacks on media practitioners, including intimidation, unlawful arrests, and physical assaults have continued to rise, often without justice being served.

“A society that silences its journalists silences the truth. We cannot build a transparent and accountable democracy when those who bring information to the public are constantly harassed, attacked, or unjustly detained,” the statement read.

The Council further urged the Federal Government and security agencies to demonstrate genuine commitment to ending impunity by thoroughly investigating all past and recent cases of attacks on journalists and prosecuting perpetrators, irrespective of their social or political standing.

It also called on state and non-state actors to respect the constitutional role of journalists, guaranteeing them the freedom to report without fear or interference, adding that the culture of impunity not only endangers journalists but also undermines the citizens’ right to know.

“Justice for journalists is justice for society. Every attack on a journalist is an attack on truth, accountability, and the people’s right to be informed,” the statement stressed.

The Council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending press freedom, promoting journalists’ welfare, and working with relevant partners to ensure that all members of the press can carry out their duties safely and responsibly.

It also paid tribute to journalists who have suffered, been detained, or lost their lives in the pursuit of truth, urging society never to forget their sacrifice.

NUJ seeks end to attacks, impunity against journalists

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• November 2, 2025
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Kwankwaso sends message to Trump after US invasion threat

The leader of Kwankwasiyya and former Presidential candidate, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has expressed concern over recent comments by US President, Donald Trump about Nigeria. President Donald Trump had described the country as a country of particular concern. Kwankwaso who took to his Facebook page on Sunday wrote: “I have noted with increasing concern the heightened
Kwankwaso sends message to Trump after US invasion threat

The leader of Kwankwasiyya and former Presidential candidate, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has expressed concern over recent comments by US President, Donald Trump about Nigeria.
President Donald Trump had described the country as a country of particular concern.

Kwankwaso who took to his Facebook page on Sunday wrote: “I have noted with increasing concern the heightened pronouncements on Nigeria by President Donald Trump. This follows his designation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern.’”

He stressed that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation facing security challenges caused by outlaws, not by religion or ethnicity.

“The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs,” he said.

Kwankwaso urged the United States to support Nigeria with modern technology to fight insecurity instead of issuing threats.

“The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country,” he added.

He also called on the Nigerian government to engage with the US diplomatically.

“The Nigerian government should also consider appointing special envoys from its distinguished diplomats to engage the American government. Additionally, it is necessary to appoint permanent ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests on the international stage,” he said.

Senator Kwankwaso appealed to Nigerians to remain united, saying, “To my fellow countrymen, this is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division. God bless Nigeria.”

Kwankwaso sends message to Trump after US invasion threat

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• November 2, 2025
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Stakeholders oppose proposed Commission for Decommissioning Oil, Gas Installations

Stakeholders under the auspices of Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria, ERAN, have kicked against the National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations, NC-DOGI, Bill, 2024. The bill seeks to establish the National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations, NC-DOGI. At a press conference during the weekend, ERAN Executive Director,
Stakeholders oppose proposed Commission for Decommissioning Oil, Gas Installations

Stakeholders under the auspices of Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria, ERAN, have kicked against the National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations, NC-DOGI, Bill, 2024.

The bill seeks to establish the National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Installations, NC-DOGI.

At a press conference during the weekend, ERAN Executive Director, Comrade Henry Abba, faulted the bill, describing the proposed commission as “another feeding bottle for the boys” and “a poisoned dagger aimed at the heart of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)”.

The stakeholders insisted that the proposed commission will not serve any useful purpose, but instead, would lead to monumental waste of scarce resources.

Abba noted that the commission would lead to needless multiplication of the agencies for an assignment that is already being carried out by various Federal Government establishments.

He said, “Nigeria is broke. Our debt is choking us. Yet some senators want to birth a brand-new commission that will swallow billions just to watch old pipes rust.

“We already have the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

“They have the staff, the laws, the labs, and the muscle to decommission any platform from Bonny to Forcados. Why create a third referee when the field already has two?”

The stakeholders warned that NC-DOGI will only breed confusion, scare investors, and open fresh avenues for corruption.

“One agency will approve the plan, another will supervise the cutting, and the third will fight over who collects the contractor’s kickback. Investors hate chaos. They will simply take their dollars to Ghana,” Abba said.

He stressed that the PIA, signed only four years ago after twenty years of labour, is yet to be fully implemented.

“The ink is still wet. Don’t tear the book to add a new chapter nobody asked for,” Abba added.

Calling on the National Assembly to “kill this bill’, the stakeholders said they will flood the National Assembly Complex with petitions, livestream town hall meetings in every oil community and drag the bill to court if it nears passage.

“Nigerians are awake. We will name and shame every senator who votes for this money-guzzler. History will record their greed,” Abba declared.

“Do not keep it alive. Do not smuggle it. Do not rename it. Bury it today so Nigeria can breathe tomorrow,” the stakeholders added in a direct message to the National Assembly leadership.

Stakeholders oppose proposed Commission for Decommissioning Oil, Gas Installations

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• November 2, 2025
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‘No valid charge, no jurisdiction, no justice against Nnamdi Kanu’ – Rights activists

A coalition of rights activists under the aegis of Rising Sun Survival Outreach, has declared that the Nigerian government has no valid charge against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Rising Sun made the declaration in a statement jointly signed by Rev. Fr. Augustine Odimmegwa and Mazi Maxwell Dede. The
‘No valid charge, no jurisdiction, no justice against Nnamdi Kanu’ – Rights activists

A coalition of rights activists under the aegis of Rising Sun Survival Outreach, has declared that the Nigerian government has no valid charge against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Rising Sun made the declaration in a statement jointly signed by Rev. Fr. Augustine Odimmegwa and Mazi Maxwell Dede. The statement was made available to journalists in Umuahia on Sunday.

The group in the same vein declared that the Abuja Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to prosecute Kanu, adding that justice cannot be dispensed in the ongoing trial of the IPOB leader.

Stressing that Kanu should not continue to be in detention, the activists noted that the law under which the Biafra agitator was charged had been repealed.

They also argued that Kanu was illegally abducted in Kenya to face trial in Nigeria, and had already been acquitted by the Court of Appeal.

The statement titled ‘No valid charge. No jurisdiction. No justice’, read, “We, the people, are saying it loud and clear: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should not be in detention for one more day. He was abducted, not extradited. The law is clear — when a man is taken illegally from another country, no court in Nigeria has any right to try him. He was charged under a dead law — the old Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 that no longer exists. You cannot revive a repealed law to persecute someone.

“The Court of Appeal discharged him, yet the DSS keeps him locked up in total disregard for that ruling. And now the Supreme Court has abandoned its own principle of finality — when a higher court says “discharged,” that’s the end of the matter.

“But they bent the rules just to keep him trapped. Let’s call it what it is — a shameful abuse of justice.

“Why the law says he must be freed:
1. Unlawful rendition = No trial. 2. No valid charge exists. 3. Fair hearing denied. 4. Double jeopardy breached. 5. Supreme Court failed its own doctrine. 6. International law is on his side.

“Justice cannot survive where the law is ignored. Freedom cannot breathe when truth is buried. According to the Appeal Court, no court in Nigeria can put Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to trial because he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought forcefully to Nigeria. That amounts to gross violation of the International law. We are not asking for favours — we are demanding justice under the law. If one man’s rights can be trampled, no one is safe. Justice for one = Justice for all. #FreeMNKNow.”

‘No valid charge, no jurisdiction, no justice against Nnamdi Kanu’ – Rights activists

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15% tariff on fuel imports will end dumping of fake products, scarcity in Nigeria – CSO

A coalition of civil-society organisations, CSOs, under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Rights Activists, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a 15 percent import duty on refined petroleum products. In a statement on Sunday, the CSOs described the policy as a watershed decision in the annals of Nigeria’s history, noting that it
15% tariff on fuel imports will end dumping of fake products, scarcity in Nigeria – CSO

A coalition of civil-society organisations, CSOs, under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Rights Activists, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a 15 percent import duty on refined petroleum products.

In a statement on Sunday, the CSOs described the policy as a watershed decision in the annals of Nigeria’s history, noting that it will finally put an end to the dumping of sub-standard fuel and the perennial scarcity that has plagued the nation for decades.

Convener of the coalition, Mr Agabi Emmanuel, noted that the tariff is not a revenue-grab but a “strategic lever” to shield Nigeria’s budding domestic refineries from predatory under-pricing by foreign importers.

“This 15% duty will stop the flood of fake, adulterated products that have destroyed engines, polluted our air and endangered lives.

“It will also guarantee steady supply because local refineries — Dangote, Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna — will now run at full throttle without fear of being undercut by smuggled or below-cost imports,” Emmanuel said.

The coalition further insisted that short-term price adjustments are a small price to pay for long-term energy sovereignty.

The CSOs dismissed critics who labelled the policy “pro-monopoly,” stressing that regulatory safeguards already exist to prevent any single player from dominating the market.

“This is about structural transformation, not favoritism,” Emmanuel said while urging the National Assembly to fast-track social compensation packages, including targeted tax relief and cash transfers to cushion vulnerable households.

It also called on the Presidency to publish a transparent implementation timetable and revenue-allocation framework within 14 days.

The CSOs also appealed to opposition parties to join hands with President Tinubu to bury the subsidy ghost forever.

“History will judge those who choose partisan point-scoring over national rebirth,” Emmanuel said.

The CSOs invited the World Bank, AfDB and technical agencies to provide concessional loans and training to maximise the policy’s benefits.

They hailed President Tinubu as a “compassionate leader who truly cares for his people”.

“Nigerians, remain patient, remain vigilant, remain engaged. From dependence to dignity — that is the promise of this 15% tariff,” the statement added.

15% tariff on fuel imports will end dumping of fake products, scarcity in Nigeria – CSO

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• November 2, 2025
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‘14% coverage unacceptable’ – Stakeholders demand improved media voice for women

Participants at a training workshop in Adamawa State have dissected the limited voice that women get in the media in Nigeria and made a case for improvement. Facilitators and participants at the four-day event on the theme, ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Media Personnel for Positive Response porting to Support Gender Responsiveness and Inclusive Governance in
‘14% coverage unacceptable’ – Stakeholders demand improved media voice for women

Participants at a training workshop in Adamawa State have dissected the limited voice that women get in the media in Nigeria and made a case for improvement.

Facilitators and participants at the four-day event on the theme, ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Media Personnel for Positive Response porting to Support Gender Responsiveness and Inclusive Governance in Adamawa State’, noted that women are significantly underrepresented as sources in Nigerian media.

They said persistent gender imbalance in the sources used in Nigerian journalism contributes to marginalization of women’s voices and by extension, poor representation in governance.

Multiple sources indicate that highly limited number of women make it to the Nigerian media as sources, accounting consistently for between 14 percent to 20 percent, while men take the lion share of between 80 percent and 86 percent.

Four resource persons who are experts in gender responsive reporting and gender inclusive advocacy, namely Malam Hassan Karofi, Dr Hussaini Lawal, Hajiya Asma’u Joda and Hajiya Aisha Bello, took turns to present papers during the Adamawa Media Training in Gender-Responsive Political Narratives which was attended by reporters and editors from electronic and print media houses.

The facilitators urged journalists to consciously seek to give women a voice by seeking them out for news interviews and projecting them in their reports.

The Media Training was orgainized by the German Corporation for International Development (GIZ) and the Development Research Project Centre (dRPC) with funding from the European Union and Germany under the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in North-east Nigeria Programme (SEPIN-SUSI).

The dRPC produced statistics which proved that the percentages of women in government in Nigeria is low, with men constituting more than 94 percent (728) of local council chairmanship, leaving women with less than five percent (48); while out of 990 seats in state houses of Assembly, women occupy only 49 which amounts to just 4.9 percent as well as just 4.4 percent of National Assembly seats; with a total of 21 female National Assembly lawmakers (four in Senate and 17 in House of Representatives) as against 448 male senators and House of Representatives members.

The facilitators at the media training which ended in Yola at the weekend impressed on the participants that women need opportunities to grow as men do and that journalists who mirror the society should amplify the voices of women to pave the path to growth.

On their part, the journalists and other media stakeholders at the training committed themselves to championing the amplification of women’s voices through gender-balanced reporting.

‘14% coverage unacceptable’ – Stakeholders demand improved media voice for women