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#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: NUJ Condemns Attacks On Journalists, Says Intimidation Must Stop
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the harassment and intimidation of journalists covering the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria nationwide protests.
The union stated that these acts were carried out by both “state and non-state actors.”
This was disclosed in a statement by the NUJ’s National Secretary, Achike Chude, yesterday.
The statement assured that despite these condemnable acts, “journalists will neither be cowed nor deterred from carrying out their responsibilities of engaging with society to inform, enlighten, and educate citizens to promote the public good.”
The statement read in part, “Following the series of protests that rocked many parts of the country on Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2, 2024, Nigerian journalists went out in their numbers as required by the demands of the profession to cover the events.
“Unfortunately, the hydra-headed monster of journalist intimidation, harassment, and the seizure of both official and personal assets of members of the press reared its ugly head once more. These acts were carried out by both state and non-state actors.
“This sordid and unacceptable state of affairs, especially those perpetrated by state actors, is occurring despite various conscious efforts by the NUJ to engage government officials and security forces to address these anti-democratic behaviours by those responsible for maintaining law and order.”
Among the recorded incidents of journalists’ intimidation and harassment across the country, the NUJ lamented that in Lagos State, a journalist with News Central Television, Bernard Akede, was “interrupted and barred from conducting live interviews by police officers and LCC officials.”
NUJ noted that in Calabar, Cross River State, “hoodlums attacked journalists, leaving Nigerian Tribune reporter Joseph Abasi-Abasi with severe injuries. The assailants targeted a bus belonging to the NUJ that was carrying food supplies to the Ernest Etim Press Centre.
“In Abuja, Daily Independent photojournalist Jide Oyekunle was unlawfully arrested and had his mobile phone confiscated by police officers while covering protests. He was only released following a spontaneous protest by other journalists.
“In Abuja, Olukayode Jayeola, a photojournalist with The PUNCH Newspaper, was arrested by police while covering the protest at Eagle Square. His camera, phones, including an M11, and other personal belongings were confiscated by security operatives.”
The statement also added that another journalist with TVC News in Kano State, Ibrahim Isah, was “physically attacked by armed hoodlums, sustaining hand injuries.”
“In Abuja, Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was brutally assaulted by police officers, who struck him with gun butts and batons, causing head injuries.
“Mary Adeboye, a journalist with News Central Television, was exposed to teargas fired by police officers while reporting on the protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Also, Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was attacked and injured by police officers who allegedly hit him with the butt of their guns and their batons,” causing injuries to his head while covering the protest.
Mohammed’s cameras were also destroyed by the police officers.
Another journalist, Jonathan Ugbal of Cross River Watch, was “arrested, beaten, and detained by police in Calabar before being released.”
The statement added that “in Delta State, some journalists came under attack by counter-protesters, allegedly supporting the government, while covering the demonstration. Prince Amour Udemude, an investigative journalist, Matthew Ochei of PUNCH Newspaper, Monday Osayande of Guardian Newspaper, and Lucy, a reporter with Pointer, were assaulted and had their equipment destroyed.”
Furthermore, nine staff members of Radio Ndarason Internationale were “arrested at RNI offices in Maiduguri while reporting on the protests,” among others.
The union called for a thorough investigation into these incidents while it continues to compile “a list of official and personal assets of journalists that were either lost, seized, or damaged to determine their value.”
“We expect nothing less than a public apology from the institutions responsible, as well as the replacement of the lost or damaged assets of the journalists.”
“Nigeria is supposed to be a country of law and order. We expect no less in terms of professional conduct from officials who are maintained with state resources,” the statement concluded.
The planned 10-day protests, scheduled to be held from August 1-10, 2024, seek to address the high cost of governance, the high cost of living for citizens, and rising food prices, among other issues.
The Nigerian rail system generated N1.69billionn in revenue from passengers in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting a 53.14 per cent increase compared to the N1.10billion recorded in the same period of 2023.
This data was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics in its report released yesterday.
According to the report, a total of 689,263 passengers travelled by rail in Q2, representing a growth rate of 45.38 per cent compared to 474,117 passengers in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The volume of goods transported via rail also saw a significant increase, with 143,759 tons moved in Q2 2024, up from 56,936 tons in Q2 2023. Additionally, the Nigerian Railway Corporation reported a volume of 5,940 tons of goods transported through pipelines in Q2 2024, an increase from the 2,856 tons recorded in the same period of the previous year.
Revenue from goods conveyed via rail stood at N537.36m in Q2 2024, a remarkable increase of 206.68 per cent compared to N175.22m in Q2 2023. The movement of goods through pipelines also contributed to revenue generation, with N42.08m collected in Q2 2024, compared to N12.81million in Q2 2023.
Other revenue receipts amounted to N994.68million in Q2 2024, representing a staggering increase of 5,206.68 per cent from the N18.74m recorded in the corresponding period of last year.
In the first quarter, of 2024, The Tide source reported that Nigeria spent more on servicing the debt incurred for building its railways than the revenue generated by its railway system. The country spent 2,470 per cent more on railway debt servicing than it made from revenue from rail services in the first quarter of 2024.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.
Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta State representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, yesterday by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta.
He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.
“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.
Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.
“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.
The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.
According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year.
In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual summit.
Tinubu “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed yesterday.
The statement is titled ‘Vice President Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly.’
It reads, “President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year.
“Therefore, the President has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.”
Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trips to China and the United Kingdom, “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” said Onanuga.
At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.
The high-level General Debate, with the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024.
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