The Nation Newspaper

Category: Media Nation

  • ‘Africa’s economic growth driven by large infrastructure developments’

    Africa’s economic outlook has remained positive since 2016 after the commodity price plunge the previous year, which slowed down the continent’s growth. The recovery of commodity prices and the acceleration of cross-border cooperation have since played a part in the recovery of the region’s economy.

    As Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Matthew Winkler says, Africa’s economic growth is currently driven by large infrastructure developments happening in multiple countries.

    Winkler spoke during the recent 2018 Africa Business Media Innovators Forum in Livingstone, Zambia.

     

    What is the state of Africa’s economy?

    Winkler: We’re at an inflection point. There are 36 economists whom we talk to at Bloomberg and their estimate is that Africa’s economy will grow at 3.1% in 2018, which is still behind the world average of 3.8%. It is afterwards, though, when the growth will take off exponentially. Looking ahead to 2020, the size of the African economy will expand significantly growing at 3.8%, beating the estimated world growth of 3.2%. This will be the first time Africa has outperformed the world in growth since 2014.

     

    What is driving this growth?

    Winkler: Ethiopia is the largest contributor to this growth, with 10.9% GDP growth for 2017 beating every member of the emerging markets – and will exceed that over the next three years. Ethiopia’s  growth is being driven by the large volume of Chinese investment coming into the country.  Last year alone, Ethiopia absorbed almost half of the US$7billion in foreign investment for East Africa. Its role in the region is becoming very similar to the one Japan played in the 1960s in Asia. This is proof that business-friendly policies can trigger progress. Ethiopia’s total trade with China was more than $5-billion in 2017 – a 74% increase from five years ago. While its trade with Saudi Arabia, its second-biggest trading partner, was $2.1billion – a 14% increase from half a decade ago.

     

    What about the bond market?

    Winkler: Globally, the bond market has been very treacherous of late, losing 1.7%. The benchmark US Treasury market lost 2.9% against growth in the EMEA bonds of 2.7%.

    Mozambican government bonds gained 28%, second behind Iraq in total

    returns, while Angola (third) grew 28% as well. Ghana generated 23% returns, Ethiopia 19% and the Democratic Republic of Congo 17%. The positive returns are due to extraordinarily high growth in the emerging and frontier markets, as countries in the developed world drop interest rates in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Now global investors are chasing for yield and the winners are these countries because that is where the returns are.

     

    How does Africa rank in terms of return on investment and what are the continent’s most rewarding sectors?

    Winkler:  In 2017, the 600 major companies domiciled in Africa produced 170% total return in their stocks. The emerging market gained 16%; the frontier market which is a bit riskier than the emerging market gained 7%; while world equities, the combination of everything, grew 19%.

    The three best-performing industries were communications services (821% total returns), industrial (327%) and financial (230%).

    Zimbabwe’s Econet Wireless is one of the leaders, producing total returns of 649% to shareholders over the last two years against the group average of 8%. Its revenue increased by 34%. Its growth is 17 times its global peers and it is currently the second fastest growing telco in the world. While Kenya’s Safaricom was the second-best African performer with a 29% gain. Its growth is five times that of its peers. Safaricom’s recently released half-year earnings reported a 70% spike in revenue and a profit increase of 148%.

     

    The telecommunications industry appears to dominate the rest, why is this so?

    Winkler: There’s a story here – analysts say Econet’s sales will increase 24% in the coming year, eight times their world competitors. Safaricom will grow 9% or the three times their world competitors.

    All these companies are linking what people do in their homes and in their businesses with what they do on their mobile platforms and that’s why the telecommunications industry remains attractive.

  • How legacy media can survive technological revolution

    From Facebook and Twitter to blogs and YouTube, technology has made us all publishers. However, while the public have been quick to adopt tech innovations, the same can’t be said for many media organisations.

    During the 2018 Bloomberg Africa Business Media Innovators Forum, four technology entrepreneurs gave their take on how modern media platforms are shaping African media and their perspectives on what trends to look out for.

    The entrepreneurs were: Uche Pedro, Founder of Nigerian online media company BellaNaija; Tim Kotin, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Superfluid, a Pan-African Data Analytics Company based in Ghana; Mamadou Gouro Sidibe, founder of Malian social media platform Lenali, and Lesley Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Project, Precinct a tech start-up incubator based in Johannesburg.

    Below is the  transcript of the discussion.

    What is the current state of the media industry in Africa?

    Tim Kotin: The role of media is evolving from one of news origination to one of curation and provision of insights. As a result of the internet’s expansion and the explosion of information, the most important value the media can provide now is no longer the origination of stories but the provision of insights and relevance. Individuals are looking for stories that connect with them on a personal level.

    Lesley Donna Williams: Technology is disrupting the media space and we need to grow with it, and create a new kind of industry. Take for example, Blixer, a streaming platform being developed in the DRC for Congolese music. Or in Zimbabwe, where they are digitising the sound of the Mbira (thumb piano) to bring something new to urban music. Such projects are bringing uniquely African options to audiences through far-reaching technologies.

    What can traditional media companies in Africa do to survive the ongoing technological revolution?

    Mamadou Gouro Sidibe: The future of the media in the continent is inclusive. The user experience is the main thing that will generate revenue and investors must look at new approaches. Now is the biggest opportunity to invest in new technologies and new platforms.

    Uche Pedro: Successful media businesses are those that build a sense of community with their clients. Platform fluidity is one of the ways the industry has transformed in the last few years. The days of just having a website are over; media owners who want to build strong connections with their audiences must be where the consumers are – on multiple platforms. I see a rise in citizen participation on the production of media as an opportunity for traditional media owners to partner with local communities to tell their stories. Traditional media producers can take advantage of  the pools of communities on social media to enhance their digital presence and generate revenues. They can also use the emerging and large networks of citizen journalists to provide local content in the most relevant and engaging way.  There is value in aggregating and personalising content. I have seen this done successfully through artificial intelligence and machine learning but there is still a need to create original content.

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    Mamadou Gouro Sidibe, founder, Lenali, and Uche Pedro, Founder, BellaNaija

     What aspect of the audience needs should traditional media companies seeking to innovate  know?

    Uche Pedro: Young people are no longer waiting to be included. They are creating their own platforms and their own content. This shift not only comes from a lack of trust in politicians but also a questioning of whether national broadcasters are speaking to the needs of young people. The lack of trust stems from the perception that media businesses on the continent have been incentivised to behave in unethical ways. With the use of technology and the reliance on local journalists, traditional media can win the interests of their younger audiences.

    Lesley Donna Williams: It is important for creators of tech products to go to market with the minimum viable products. They need to make sure that what they have is market ready – is tested and can be scaled. They need to make sure that they haven’t built their product for 1000 people, only for 40,000 or 100,000 take up the platform.

    What can African governments do to encourage innovation in the media sector?

    Tim Kotin: From a policy perspective, there has to be a willingness to allow for exploration and innovation. Governments must provide enabling environments for businesses to foster collaboration between existing and start-up companies.

    Uche Pedro: Provision of infrastructure and basic services should remain a priority. If entrepreneurs are unable to access electricity and connectivity, how can they run successful businesses?

  • Future of Africa media landscape in focus at Bloomberg Media forum

    More than 90 international media, technology, business and government and community leaders from 21 countries gathered in Livingstone on November 19 for the fourth Bloomberg Africa Business Media Innovators summit (ABMI).

    The summit  explored the issues and challenges impacting the future of media in Africa under the overarching theme, ‘Africa 2025: The Media Landscape of the Future’.

    Convened by Bloomberg Philanthropies and hosted by Matthew Winkler, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Bloomberg News and Scott Havens, Global Head of Digital and Media Distribution, Bloomberg Media, this year’s summit focused on key themes impacting the evolving global media landscape, including business models of the future, how to finance a rapidly changing industry and media’s opportunities and obstacles in The Fourth Industrial Revolution.

    Participants will also hear from a group of young disruptors on their experiences and predictions about the future of African media.

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    Their Honorable Dora Siliya, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services, Zambia.

    “As African economies continue to grow and play an increasing role in the global economy, the need for robust, accurate business journalism and financial analysis is more important than ever before,” Matthew Winkler, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Bloomberg News said.

    “Every year, this summit leads to dynamic and engaging discussions about the current state and future of African media; I am looking forward to participating in these conversations over the coming days.”

    Speakers at this year’s convening include media owners, senior editors, investors, business leaders, government officials and community leaders from countries across the continent and beyond, including: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, U.S.A. and Zambia.  Honorable Dora Siliya, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services, Zambia, opened Monday’s program with a welcome address.

    “We are pleased to host Bloomberg’s Africa Business Media Innovators summit here in Zambia,” said Honorable Dora Siliya, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services, Zambia.  “As Zambian and African economies continue to evolve and grow more complex, it is key that journalism across the continent develops accordingly. I believe in the transformative power of the media and I am confident that the conversations taking place today and tomorrow will help us continue to drive growth.”

    The latest edition of ABMI follows successful gatherings in Ghana (2017), Kenya (2016) and South Africa (2015), where international media owners and operators, investors and government officials addressed the importance of a robust financial journalism sector and the value of data and data-related technologies to drive international investment and economic growth.

    The annual event series is a component of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA), a pan-African program launched by Michael R. Bloomberg to strengthen media capacity, promote innovation in the sector and improve access to high-quality data and information on the continent.

  • IPC worried over increase in hate speech, fake news

    The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has expressed worry on the increase  in fake news, unprofessional reporting and hate speech in the social media space which may mar the smooth conduct of the 2019 general election if not checked.

    To nip the problem in the bud, the organisation recently organised a workshop Conflict Sensitive Reporting for online Journalists and bloggers across the country.

    With support from the European Union-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project, the second part of the workshop held at the Grand Pela Hotels, Abuja for media practitioners from the North, South East and South South regions of the country.

    Speaking during the opening ceremony of the two-day training, the president of IPC Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the training became necessary because of some evidence that hate speech actually flourishes in the online environment.

    Arogundade who was represented by IPC Program Manager Stella Nwofia, pointed out that the online environment now occupies a very central place in media operations, as it now offers a converging point for all the traditional and conventional media.

    He noted that with the 2019 general elections approaching, it became necessary to remind participants on the rules of engagement with regards to elections reporting and conflicts therein.

    The Director drew the attention of the participants to section four (4) of the Nigerian Media Code of Election Report (revised edition 2018) where ‘Hate Speech’ was singled out as a menace in online reporting and elections conflicts.

    Arogundade said Nigeria has a large population of internet users, and as a result there is a rapid increase in the number of journalists offering to practise online to reach this ‘Internet or online population’.

    He however, noted that the activities of the practitioners should help checkmate the menace of hate speech and conflicts in the country.

    He said :“the online now covers Radio, Television and the Print – such that we now speak of media convergence. The online media now offers a broad spectrum of information and dissemination as well as access to the media by millions if not billions of Internet users be they as individuals or groups”.

    “With the large population of internet users in Nigeria, there is a rapid increase in the number of journalists offering to practise online to reach this ‘Internet or Online population’.

    “What all this means is that we simply cannot ignore what goes on Online in the name of journalism especially against the background of growing perception that online media and social media platforms are the major harbingers of hate speech and stokers of inciting flames.

    “it is feared that in the realm of politics, violent conflict during elections could occur if online journalism practitioners and bloggers refuse to embrace conflict sensitive principles.

    “The emerging consensus therefore is that online journalists and bloggers need to strive to do better so they could be part of efforts that seek to remove hate narratives from political communication as a way of making the electoral environment healthier.”

    He urged the participants to understand and imbibe the principles of fairness, diversity and objectivity in reporting the electoral process and the elections.

    “Our expectation is that the online media would be used as a platform for fair, balanced, language sensitive and conflict sensitive reporting of the elections”.

    He commended the European Union for its support that made the training possible through Component 4b: Support to the Media of the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project.

    “In the above regard, it is expected that this training will help participants to understand and imbibe the principles of fairness, diversity and objectivity in reporting the electoral process and the elections”.

    He said that the Centre expects the online media practitioners to use their platforms for fair, balanced report, language sensitive and conflict sensitive reporting of the elections.

    Leading a session on ‘Social Media & Elections: Giving Practical Effect to Conflict Sensitive Reporting Online’, the Editor-In-Chief, Premium Times, Abuja, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, advocated for fair and balanced news reporting by the practitioners.

    He also cautioned against hate speech and conflict-inducing headlines.

    “Therefore, the need to be cautious has risen, especially when we cast headlines; as conflict can be triggered by ambiguity in communication intended by the journalist involved.

    “Thus, when issues arise in the society, journalists can provide parties with the information that convoke wise decisions in managing and resolving conflicts. Always remember that your ‘business’ thrives only when Nigeria is peaceful,”

    He went further to enumerate how online journalists can make a difference in the profession.

    The Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, further urged the participants to “Be proactive and careful with translation (intended meaning or language) and to avoid  the use of offensive and graphic images or videos”

    In her presentation on ‘Understanding Conflict, its Nature and Character’, Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University, Kano State, described conflicts as a natural and inevitable occurrence orchestrated by perceived threats while mutual respects is the antidote.

    She classified conflicts into seven; namely: intrapersonal, inter-personal, Intra-group, party factions, Inter-group, intra-society and international conflicts.

    On hate speech and fake news, she urged online media practitioners to be abreast of the cardinals of journalism to guide against escalating the scourge which is capable of causing breakdown of law and order in the entire country.

    She cautioned the practitioners from sourcing news from social media, especially without verifiable sources.

    According to the Facilitator, identified embellished news reports with tribal, ethnic and religious undertone are purveyors of conflicts in the Nigerian setting.

    Similarly, the Executive Director, CITAD, Kano, Dr. Y.Z. Ya’u, facilitated discussions on ‘Contemporary Conflicts in Nigeria and Possible Impact on Media Coverage of 2019 General Elections’, urging all stakeholders to work harmoniously towards conflict-minimised 2019 general elections.

    “Online journalists in particular must not fail to uphold peace through reporting, especially those that fuel conflicts like Boko Haram, Political-thugs, IPOB, etc.

    “You are required to be very careful about certain colourations which tend to depict individuals in the form of Hate Speech. For instance, some individuals are reported in the media as sympathisers of Boko Haram, IPOB, Militants, etc.

    “It is important to understand the root or what the conflict is all about before reporting to avoid inflammatory reportage.

    He however warned that the fear of fake News should not incapacitate journalists from carrying out their duties effectively.

    “The answer to it is investigative journalism as today fake organisations are issuing press releases to incite people against others”, the ED of CITAD, Kano, said.

  • Journalists urged to adopt positive narrative for peace, development

    Journalists have been urged to use positive narrative and perspective to engender the peace and development of Nigeria as an integral part of Africa.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Qasim Akinreti made the call while giving a keynote address at the opening of a “2-day 2017 Peace Media Parley” held in Lagos last Tuesday.

    Themed “Picture Africa for Peace and Love Initiatives,” the training was jointly organised by African Foundation/Projects for Peace and Love Initiative (AFPLI) and BudgIT.

    Akinreti noted that it was imperative for journalists to explore different narrative and perspective about peace in order to address and  proffer lasting solutions to issues confronting Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    He said journalists should begin to engage people and stakeholders on issues that will promote peace and the development of our society.

    “Don’t picture Africa for war, violence and disease. Don’t picture Nigeria as a crises zone rather, picture Africa for peace and development. Journalists must begin to embrace developmental journalism. We must be solution-oriented,” Akinreti said.

    In an address, the founder of  AFPLI, Dr. Titus Oyeyemi urged journalists to be peace mediators.

    Oyeyemi noted that the training was aimed at giving cartoonists, journalists and photojournalist hands-on training on developmental reporting and photojournalism to foster peace in our communities.

    “Our communities have been torned apart which is not necessary. We need to mend our society. The task essentially rests on the shoulders of journalists. This will help help us live together in peace and harmony as a people.

    ” The role of cartoonists and photojournalism falls within the concept of developmental journalism, a new feature in journalism,” he added.

    Oyeyemi however,  urged cartoonists and photojournalists to make “creative noise, creative faith and creative activities out of their cartoons and photos.”

    One of the facilitators and Editor, African Development Information Service, Mr. Rotimi Sankore urged the participants to maximize data and contextualize their work in order not to fall into prejudice.

    Speaking on “Harnessing the Opportunities in Traka.com Tool by BudgIT.com,” Ilevbaoje Uademen called for a working partnership with journalists in telling their stories.

  • VON’s Fayemi wins Female Reporters Fellowship award

    VON’s Fayemi wins Female Reporters Fellowship award

    Broadcast journalist with the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Olufunke Fayemi has won the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship Award organised by  Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ)
    She won with an investigative report on  the poor living  condition of young girls in Oko-Oba, Agege titled “The Life of Girls in Destitute Camps” and a leadership project on empowering female journalists in her organisation.
    Fayemi was one of the  15 fellows  from across media houses in the country who participated  the leadership programme.
    Juliana Francis, Crime Editor of New Telegraph was the first runner up, while Bunmi Yekini of Radio One was the second runner up.
    The programme is a pilot initiative of the Wole Soyinka Centre to rewrite the narrative of female marginalisation in the media sector and mobilise a network of reporters repositioned for leadership.
    Supported by Free Press Unlimited, the fellowship was also a consolidation on the Report Women project of the WSCIJ designed to cover prime issues of access and abuse of girls and women in Nigeria.
    Besides unearthing critical but underreported issues hunting the female gender across diverse sectors, the fellows were tasked with the execution of leadership projects under the tutelage of mentors including the Executive  Director, Women Advocate, Research and Documentation Center Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Center, Pan Atlantic University, Nneka Okekearu and Managing Editor, Online Editor, The Nation newspaper Lekan Otufodurin.
    Other fellows include Faith Yahaya (The Nation), Abosede Omoruyi (Core TV),  Amina Alhassan (Daily Trust), Nkechi Isaac (Leadership), Godiya Daniel (NTA,Yola), Ene Osang (Blueprint), Evelyn Okakwu (Premium Times), Ayodele Olofintuade (9jafeminista), Ifeoma Okeke (Businessday), Thelma Okoro (TV 360), Maria Albert Zirra and Nafisat Abdulkarim (Freelance journalist).
    Veteran broadcaster, Mrs Bimbo Oloyede who presented the overall prize urged the fellows to “embrace criticisms with humility and accept commendations with joy.”
    ” I urge you to accept with humility any word of constructive criticism that comes from any member of your group. At this point, I expect that everybody wants everybody to improve. Again, just as you criticise, make sure you praise. When you get constructive praise from your colleagues who understand what it took you to bring out that report, it goes a long way,” she said.
    According WSCIJ Coordinator, Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, the debate on gender balance would not indeed be balance until women exert themselves by ensuring mainstream coverage of gender issues.
    “Experience has shown that female reporters are usually missing in the room when we have our awards, not because they are not able to but because the environment doesn’t allow them. Female and males are equal but we have to own our part and stand up to be counted and participate as members of the society along with the male colleagues.”
    Dr Akinyode-Afolabi described the fellows as  the change agents needed reposition the world of women, noting that the pursuit of a gender-balanced society was not a race but a marathon.
    “It was an experience worth the while. We must appreciate the different contributions of people who bring forth the issues of gender. I now have a better impression of the media,” she said.
    Otufodunrin said the mentorship platform was a reinforcement of his passion for raising unique crop of journalists with the right skills set. He urged journalists to match their skills with technological improvement to ensure they are not bypassed by opportunities.
    “What this has done is a confirmation of what I’ve wanted to do. Our career somehow flounder away reporting others and not minding our careers. Journalists are like others are human beings who need to accomplish their career goals,” he noted.
  • West Africa Media Excellence Awards holds Saturday

    West Africa Media Excellence Awards holds Saturday

    THE maiden edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Awards will hold on Saturday.

    The awards, according to the Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, are intended to inspire and promote excellence in journalism across West Africa by rewarding and honouring journalists from the region, who have distinguished themselves by producing and reporting high quality journalistic pieces that impact positively on society.

    To ensure that determination of stories to be awarded is based on a credible, high-standard and a professional standard, the MFWA has a three-member team of distinguished, experienced and renowned journalists and media experts to serve as judges.

    The judges are:

    Ms. Sophie Ly, an experienced Senegalese journalist, media trainer and media development expert. She presently serves as the Director of the Dakar-based consulting firm, Nexus Groupe.

    Mr. Lanre Idowu, an accomplished and highly respected Nigerian journalist, editor, author, publisher, media owner and trainer. He is well-known for his passion and commitment to quality journalism. He serves as a trustee of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

    Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, a veteran Ghanaian journalist.  She worked with the Graphic Communications Group between 1967 and 1982 as a Reporter, Staff Writer, Columnist and Acting Editor of the Daily Graphic and Mirror.

    The competition received more than 400 entries from 12 countries across West Africa. The three-member panel of judges, after a thorough review of all entries, shortlisted 15 finalists for six out of 11 categories.

    The finalists are as follows:

     

    * Oil and Gas Reporting: Justice Baidoo, Multimedia Broadcasting Limited, Ghana; Femi Asu, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria.

     

    * ECOWAS and Regional Integration Reporting: Akinfenwa Ebenezer Olugbenga, The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria; Shiella Williams, Business Day Newspaper, Ghana.

     

    * Anti-Corruption Reporting: Alagbe Jesusegun, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria and Odimegwu Onwumere, The Nigerian Voice, Nigeria.

     

    * Health Reporting: Kindo Noufou, Burkina 24, Burkina Faso; Agbota Ernest, ORTB Radio Parakou, Benin and Fousseni Saibou, Radio Kanal FM, Togo.

     

    * Human Rights Reporting: Bazie Bassana Jonas, Radio Wat FM, Burkina Faso; Seth Kwame Boateng, Multimedia Broadcasting Limited, Ghana and Sodjago Ankou Mawuegnegan, Senego Senegal.

     

    *Investigative Reporting: Arukaino Umukoro, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria; Ulrich Vital Ahotondji et Romuald Logbo, EducAction, Benin and Manasseh Azure Awuni, Multimedia Broadcasting Limited, Ghana.

     

    Finalists will be hosted at the awards event on Saturday and also participate in the West Africa Media Excellence Conference on Friday, which will feature sessions on topical journalism issues and also provide opportunities for networking with other journalists, editors and experts from West Africa.

    The overall best West African journalist would also be announced at the awards event.

    Winners will receive plaques, certificates and cash prizes. All finalists who are not winners in the various categories will also receive certificates of merit.

    All 15 finalists will also be inducted as fellows of the MFWA’s Journalism for Change Network and will be offered regular training opportunities both locally and internationally to enhance their capacity to influence positive change in society through journalism.

    The award was launched on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Ghana.

    It was officially launched by Ghana’s Minister for Business Development, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal. Awal is a journalist by training, former managing director of Ghana’s biggest newspaper organisation, Graphic Communications Group Limited and the publisher of one of Ghana’s leading newspapers, The Finder.

  • Nigerian govt urged to create enabling environment for media practice

    Nigerian govt urged to create enabling environment for media practice

    A coalition of media advocacy organizations in Nigeria under the aegis of the Partnership for Media and Democracy in Nigeria (PAMED) has called on the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for media practice in the country.

    The group  made the call in a statement to mark the World Press Freedom Day 2017 signed by Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society (IMS) Lanre Arogundade, Director, International Press Centre (IPC) and Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA).

    PAMED noted that the legal and policy environment for the practice of journalism in Nigeria was not conducive, adding that there is an urgent need to address the issue to ensure that journalists do not become endangered species in Nigeria.

    The group which said it was  worried at the abysmal state of media freedom in Nigeria, PAMED noted that Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans Frontières RSF), the Paris, France based freedom of expression organization  ranked Nigeria 122 out of 180 countries in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index released on April 16, 2017.

    It described the situation as appalling, noting that the government’s non-challant attitude to investigating attacks on journalists and bringing perpetrators to justice has fueled impunity by perpetrators since they are invariably never brought to justice.

    PAMED said from the murder of Dele Giwa on October 19, 1986 till date, no perpetrator in all the cases of journalists murdered in Nigeria has been apprehended, tried or brought to book as virtually all of them have gone free.

    Observing that the shooting to death at his residence of Mr. Famous Giobaro, a Desk Editor with the Bayelsa State owned Glory FM 97.1in the early hours of April 16, 2017 by unidentified gunmen, was the latest in a series of such incidents, it said that it was tragic that the perpetrators of this heinous act may also never be found or brought to justice.

    PAMED called on the government to make a public commitment to fully implement the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity to stem the ugly tide.

    It also called on the government to take decisive measures to combat impunity for crimes against journalists, including by strengthening UN mechanisms; cooperating with member States; partnering with other organizations and institutions; raising awareness; sensitizing and training security and law enforcement agencies to investigate cases; and fostering safety initiatives.

     

     

  • The Nation vs Senate: CJ directs judge to deliver verdict

    Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has issued a fiat directing Justice Mohammed Yunusa to deliver judgment in The Nation’s suit against the Senate.

    Justice Yunusa had adjourned the verdict before he was transferred to Enugu Division.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent, Imam Bello are the applicants.

    Through their lawyer Mr Wahab Shittu, they sued the Senate and National Assembly.

    A new judge, Justice Jude Dagat, took over the case, but the plaintiffs applied to the CJ for a fiat to enable Justice Yunusa return to Lagos to deliver the judgment rather than the case starting de novo (afresh).

    The applicants are praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from summoning them or compelling their appearance over a story.

    The Senate, last August 4, invited Omotoso and Bello over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’, which was published last July 30.‎

    The Senate wrote again last August 11 threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants to appear.

    But Justice Yunusa made an interim order of injunction restraining the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before a Senate committee set up to investigate the publication.

    ‎He barred the respondents, their members, committees or agents from summoning the applicants or their agents before any Senate committee.

    In the fiat issued on February 10 and signed by the CJ, he directed Justice Yunusa to return to Lagos to deliver the judgment.

    It reads: “In exercise of powers conferred on me by virtue of Section 19 (3) of the Federal High Court Act 1973 and all other powers enabling me in that regard, I, Ibrahim Ndahi Auta (OFR), Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, do hereby order that the judgments in the civil suits listed in the shedule of this order which were pending before Hon. Justice M. N. Yunusa formerly sitting in the Lagos Judicial Division, be delivered by Hon. Justice M. N. Yunusa sitting in the Lagos Judicial Division.”

    The four cases listed in the schedule are Alhaji Jibrin Okelewu vs IGP, Vintage Press Limited vs National Assembly, Songhai Energy vs Maersk and Valueline Securities vs Bishop David Oyedepo.

    In an application filed last December 1, the Senate prayed the court not to deliver the judgment but to extend the time within which it “may” file and serve its counter-affidavit.

    The Senate sought an order striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction and prayed the court to set aside the proceedings, its orders and decisions.

    In a supporting affidavit, Clerk of the Senate’s Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, Freedom Osolo, said the National Assembly’s inability to respond to the suit on time “is not deliberate but is due to the non-service of the aforesaid process of this court on the second respondent”.

    In its preliminary objection, the National Assembly sought an order striking out the suit for being “premature, pre-emptive and speculative”.

    It argued that the applicants were attempting to prevent the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional duties by filing the suit.

    But, the applicants said the Senate’s motion was an abuse of court process because it had ample opportunity to defend the suit.

    Shittu averred that the court adjourned the case severally to enable the respondents file their defence, but they “deliberately failed and neglected” to do so.

    Besides, the applicants’ lawyer said the respondents were served with the processes, which were acknowledged with an official stamp, according to affidavits deposed to by the court’s sheriff.

    According to the proofs of service exhibited before the court, the suit was received by the Office of the President of the Senate last September 1.

    The National Assembly was earlier served last August 27 through the Office of the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.

    The applicants are claiming that the National Assembly was attempting to gag the press through intimidation and by demanding that they disclose the story’s source.

    But, in its counter-affidavit, the Senate said the letters to Omotoso and Bello were “mere invitation”.

    It said the National Assembly “is not a law enforcement agency that can impede or prohibit the rights of the applicants”.

    The case has been adjourned till May 5.

  • Peter Greste retrial order opens up ‘more options’ for his release

    Peter Greste retrial order opens up ‘more options’ for his release

    The retrial of Australian journalist Peter Greste, ordered by Egyptian courts overnight, opens up “more options and more possibilities” for his release, the foreign minister Julie Bishop says.

    The Egyptian court of cassation upheld an appeal by Greste and his al-Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed after the trio were found guilty of spreading false news and supporting the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood organisation in June.

    “There is some cause for optimism because now Peter Greste’s appeal has been upheld, that means the conviction has been overturned,” Bishop told the Nine network early on Friday morning.

    “He is now back in the position of an accused person awaiting a trial. So that opens up a whole raft of new options for Peter and his family.”

    Greste and Fahmy, who is a dual Egyptian-Canadian national, have applied for deportation.

    “In the past, the Egyptian government has indicated that they would consider some kind of prisoner transfer agreement and they do have a new law that was introduced recently, and it does give some optimism for us that he could be transferred back to Australia under that law,” Bishop said.

    “However, now that the appeal has been upheld, the conviction overturned, I think there are more possibilities, more options available to the Grestes.”

    Greste’s brothers Andrew and Mike told reporters in Brisbane the family was disappointed the charges were not quashed but a retrial was “the next best result for us”.

    “It’s been recognised the first trial was flawed,” Mike Greste said. “Peter in our view is completely innocent, so now the court recognises he’s now an innocent man and we start again.”

    Andrew Greste said the change in status from a convict to an accused person “really does strengthen” his brother’s bid for deportation to Australia by presidential decree.

    Peter Greste’s lawyer has now amended an application originally made several weeks ago.

    The family was now fixing its hopes on deportation as the best chance of getting Greste home because a retrial – which would be the journalist’s next opportunity for release on bail – could be a “lengthy” process some months away.

    “We’ve got to be hopeful,” Andrew said. “It’s a new decree and there’s very little understood about it. There’s very little regulation, there’s no precedent, so obviously we’re in uncharted waters there. But I’d like to think the decree was enacted to be used, so we’re going to test it out.”

    The family did not know Peter’s response to news of the retrial, as no one would be allowed to speak to him until Sunday.