News
International Press Institute voids Gov Matawalle’s crackdown on media houses
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has reacted to the order by the Zamfara State Government to shut down some public and private media houses in the state.
The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, had, on Saturday, ordered the immediate shutdown of some media organisations in the state over alleged violation of journalism laws.
The order was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Dosara.
“The Zamfara State Security Council has approved and ordered the closure of some media outlets in the state for breaking the laws of journalism.”
The affected media houses are Radio Nigeria, NTA Gusau, Pride FM Gusau, Gamji Television, Al Umma TV, and Vision FM.
According to reports, the development was a sequel to media coverage during an event organized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gusau, the state capital.
Reacting, IPI Nigeria, in a statement issued on Sunday by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, said that the Zamfara State Government lacks the power to shut down media houses.
The IPI Nigeria called on the Zamfara State Police Commissioner not to enforce the closure as directed by the state government.
The statement reads partly, “The order by the state government clearly violates the 1999 Constitution as amended, and has no place in a civilised society like ours.
“It reminds Nigerians of the dark days of the military in Nigeria when media organisations were clamped down by various authoritarian regimes.
“IPI Nigeria, therefore, reiterates its demand for immediate withdrawal of all directives impeding freedom of expression in Zamfara State and demands an apology from the state government for its obnoxious act.
“IPI Nigeria also calls on federal authorities to direct the Zamfara State governor to comply with the dictates of the rule of law by immediately withdrawing the order for the shutting down of the media organisations, and henceforth desist from any such act.”
Benson Upah, spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has cautioned that Nigerians might eventually face petrol prices of N5,000 per litre.
In an interview with Weekend Trust, Upah criticized the recent increase in fuel pump prices and argued that it contradicts the agreement previously made between the NLC and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He asserted that the Federal Government’s claims of restoring the fuel subsidy are untrue.
Upah remarked, “The subsidy was never reinstated as they have stated. So, what justifies the rise in pump prices from N650 to N1,500 or even N2,000?
“This situation suggests that we might not have seen the worst yet. There is a possibility that fuel prices could reach N5,000 per litre. We hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, it will be up to Nigerians to make the decision.”
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the receipt of a two million Naira bank draft from Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, a former student loan beneficiary.
This information was disclosed in a statement by Monalisa Dike from the Corporate Communications Department of NELFUND on Friday in Abuja.
Dike noted that Awomolo had received the loan during his undergraduate studies at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1975 to 1977.
She mentioned that Awomolo had fully repaid the loan, showing his strong commitment to the country.
“The original loan amount was N1,000 for two academic sessions, which played a crucial role in his completion of the law degree.
“Although Awomolo had attempted to repay the loan several times over the years, he was only able to settle it now.
“In his letter to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Awomolo expressed his appreciation for the student loan opportunity provided by the Nigerian government,” Dike said.
She added that Awomolo praised the transparency and accountability NELFUND has shown in managing student loans.
Dike emphasized that Awomolo’s repayment highlights the enduring impact of President Bola Tinubu’s initiative and NELFUND’s continued importance in supporting Nigerian students.
She also mentioned that the repaid funds will be used to support the education of current students in need of loans.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a warning to the public about scammers pretending to represent the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme.
The NDDC also noted that registration for the scheme ended on August 31, 2024.
This information was released in a statement on Friday by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs at the commission, and shared with DAILY POST.
The statement reads, in part: “We have received reports of individuals receiving unsolicited messages claiming they have been selected for the NDDC Internship Scheme, which includes requests for personal information and an acceptance fee.
“The NDDC does not charge any fees for placing qualified youths in its internship programme. We want to make it clear that these fraudulent selection messages are not affiliated with the NDDC.
“Any official communication from us will only come through our verified websites and social media channels. If you receive a message like this, please ignore it and report it to the relevant authorities. Your safety and privacy are our top priorities.
“For genuine inquiries about our empowerment programs, please contact us directly through our official channels.”
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