The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IPC

  • IPC decries attacks on journalists

    THE International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has condemned attacks on journalists by security operatives and political thugs during weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    IPC’s Programme Officer Stella Nwofia said monitoring of media coverage of the elections revealed that the following violation of journalists’ rights and press freedom occurred between Saturday and Sunday:

    *Perez Brisibe of Vanguard newspapers and some other journalists were assaulted by suspected political thugs at the Ughelli office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Delta State while being barred from monitoring the collation of results;

    *Imani Joe-Adeniyi, Channels TV Correspondent; Saviour Etim Asuquo, Channels TV Cameraman; Tina Todo, The Guardian newspaper reporter and others were reportedly stopped and molested by men of the Nigeria Police in Calabar, Cross River State, on their way to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain updates on the collation of election results; and

    *A private radio station, Unity FM, and some of the journalists were attacked by some youths from Anguwan Rogo and Zinaria in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State over an alleged offensive live programme.

    The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, was quoted as saying the attacks were unbecoming and certainly not acceptable since the journalists were carrying out legitimate professional duty during the elections.

    “The fundamental rights of the concerned journalists and media institutions were violently violated and we hereby call on them to immediately seek appropriate legal redress,” Arogundade said.

    He called on the police authorities, other law enforcement agencies and the leadership of the political parties to enlighten their men and members on the important role of the media during elections.

    The centre also called for the immediate release of two Al-Jazeera journalists, Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Ali, who according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have been confined to Sutus Hotel, Maiduguri by Nigerian military authorities since last Tuesday.

  • 2015 poll: IPC sensitizes journalists on media code

    2015 poll: IPC sensitizes journalists on media code

    As part of bid to ensure violence free election come February, the International Press Centre on Tuesday organised a seminar (Tweet-a-thon) to sensitize journalists.

    The seventh tweet-a-thon themed: ‘Making use of Media Code of Election Coverage for Credible Reporting’, generated several tweets which reached 134,853 accounts, thereby making 173,975 impressions through hashtag #Media4Elections.

    Lead discussant, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Newspapers and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, charged the Nigerian media on professional coverage of the general elections.

    Speaking at the International Press Centre (IPC) Tweet-a-Thon, on Tuesday, Adesina who was represented by Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Executive Director, Special Duties, The Sun Newspapers, stressed that if the elections would go well, without negative incidents, it depends largely on how the media do their work.

    “There are several factors that instigate electoral violence, but a key one is the perceived sense of injustice, through electoral manipulation. But if the media does its work professionally, covers the elections dispassionately, and the electoral umpire also does its work with absolute neutrality, and efficiently, then the possibilities of violence flaring are greatly reduced,” he said.

    According to him, credible reportage promotes the transparency and impartiality that goes into an election that has been properly conducted.

    He noted that stakeholders in the media had worked hard over the past many months to articulate what is now called ‘The Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage’, which has now been formally presented to the public.

    Also present at the seminar is former Assistant Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mrs. Funmi Komolafe as well as General Secretary of the Lagos State council of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, (NUJ), Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde.

    Mrs. Komolafe in her presentation advised journalists not too over trust anybody to the extent of not having necessary details about situations reported.

    “Politicians in most cases want to use you. Do not over trust your sources because the person giving you the information only wants to get it across through you. So double check the details,” she reiterated.

    Mrs. Yetunde responded to a question from Mrs. Komolafe on how Police representatives, the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Security (DSS), were informed about the role of the media in the coverage of election.

    In her response, she suggested that the Union at the national level set up a monitoring team to mediate between military and paramilitary personnel as well as journalists when need arises.

    Mr. Adeshina, who observed that elections should be about free will, making choices, and contributing to development through the emergence of leaders who can serve faithfully, said: “Elections in our country need not be doomsday.”

    He said: “Why then should a country perish, simply because it is holding elections? That is the scenario in Nigeria.  But the evil day can be avoided if journalists do their work impartially, professionally and efficiently.

    “A document has been put together to help us.  Let everyone that has the code of election coverage run with it.  The vision is for an appointed time.  And that time is now,” he summed.

    The associations involved in the months-long bid to produce the document included Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

    Others are Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Media Rights Agenda (MRA) as well as International Press Centre (IPC).

  • IPC condoles with The Sun

    The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos said it was shocked and saddened by the death of  Mr. Dimgba Igwe.

    “It is tragic irony that a gentleman who was exercising to keep fit and live well, ended up being knocked to death by a vehicle,” the IPC Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade  said  yesterday.

    He described Igwe as a distinguished editor and columnist and a quiet, diligent worker who happened to be one of those that the younger generation of journalism professionals looked up to for inspiration.

  • The Nation scores high in rural poverty reporting

    The Nation scores high in rural poverty reporting

    Nigeria’s Newspaper of the Year, The Nation, has received accolades for coming tops among newspapers that report rural poverty issues.

    A research conducted by the International Press Centre (IPC), in collaboration with World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), showed The Nation had the highest scope of its reports on rural issues/areas with 32.1 per cent.

    The study, which focused on the reportage of six major papers, including The Punch, ThisDay, The Guardian, Vanguard and The Sun for the month of April 2013, also revealed that The Nation had the second highest number of most sympathetic reports, with 95 out of its total 109 reports (87 percent) sympathetic to the cause of the poor.

    Presenting copies of the findings to The Nation’s management on Monday, IPC’s director, Lanre Arogundade described as worrisome, the non-reportage of rural poverty issues by media outfits.

    He urged journalists to as part of their social responsibility, raise awareness on poverty issues such that their reports will influence needed policy changes and reforms in the affected areas.

    He further advised media organisations to develop internal monitoring mechanisms of their editorial performance on the reporting of poverty issues in general and local rural poverty in particular.

    Arogundade said rural poverty reporting should be made an indispensable component of development reporting, adding that it should be made a specialised area or beat.

    “Media institutions should be encouraged to adopt editorial policies and frameworks that espouse the eradication of poverty. The media and civil society platforms working on the eradication of rural poverty should embrace mutually beneficial partnership,” he said.

    Receiving the copies on behalf of the management, Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board, Tunji Adegboyega lauded the group for the feat, just as he tasked the IPC to revamp its activism.

    He noted that although most votes come from the rural areas, the rural dwellers who come rain or shine cast their votes have been denied basic infrastructure.

    “We are in political times and even the people in the rural areas would want to know and read about politics. Although we will continue to strive to report rural poverty issues, I want to also urge the IPC to step up its activism,” he said.

    At the event were The Nation Deputy Editor (Daily), Lawal Ogienagbon and Online Editor, Lekan Otufodunrin.

     

     

     

     

  • Family, others seek Jonathan’s help on missing OAU lecturer

    Family, others seek Jonathan’s help on missing OAU lecturer

    •Professor of Nuclear Physics last seen in Akwa Ibom

    Authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State; family and students of 65-year-old Professor of Nuclear and Medical Physics, James Bolarinwa Olomo, have urged the Federal Government to assist in the search for the professor.

    They also sought the assistance of the Akwa Ibom State government, State Security Service (SSS), police and other Nigerians.

    Prof Olomo has reportedly been missing for over 80 days.

    He is also a radiation safety adviser (RSA) to the Oil and Gas sector.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba, Lagos, OAU’s spokesman Prof Akinola Adegbola said there had been no information on Prof Olomo since he went missing nearly three months ago.

    Adegbola, who is also the chairman of the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said the university community, students, family and others were traumatised by the professor’s disappearance.

    He said: “Prof James Bolarinwa Olomo, a professor of Nuclear and Medical Physics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, went to Eket in Akwa Ibom State as a radiation safety adviser (RSA) to an oil and gas company on Thursday, October 17, 2013, and was last heard from on Saturday, October 19, 2013.

    “He left Lagos on Thursday, October 17, 2013, by flight to Calabar (Cross River State) and to Eket by road via Uyo (both in Akwa Ibom State). He lodged at Hotel Farlem, 8 Archibong Street, Afaha Ukwa, Eket, and spent three nights there. He planned to return to his home in Ibadan (Oyo State) on Monday, October 21, 2013. He was last reached on his phone by a colleague from Ile-Ife about 9pm on Saturday, October 19, 2013. Their conversation lasted over 40 minutes.

    “His secretary, who also spoke with him about 8pm on Saturday, October 19, 2013, told his colleagues and family on Monday, October 21, 2013, that Prof Olomo had not returned from Eket and could not be reached on his phone since Sunday, October 20, 2013. Since then, there have been efforts to contact him. We are yet to make a breakthrough.”

    The spokesman said several efforts, including a journey to Akwa Ibom by a search party, comprising members of the OAU-ASUU and Otan Ayegbaju community in the university, were made to trace or contact the professor.

    According to him, the team was received and taken round Uyo and Eket by officials of the University of Uyo branch of ASUU, led by its Chairman, Dr. Anyim Anyim.

    The OAU-ASUU Search Committee Chairman, Prof Olugbenga Jegede, said: “The matter has been reported to the police and SSS in Osun and Akwa-Ibom states. There has been no clue concerning his whereabouts.

    “Major hospitals in Eket have been contacted and there is no case of any accident linked to Olomo.

    “The police, his colleagues from OAU and family have visited Hotel Farlem, Eket. His bag containing a native dress, a towel, a sponge and three tellers were found in his hotel room. The hotel manager and the attendants said he submitted his room key, left early in the morning of Sunday, October 20, 2013, without checking out or returning.

    “His bag was packed into a store and his room re-allocated to another guest. The hotel workers did not report his disappearance to the police, arguing that they had similar experiences when guests would go out and return few days or weeks later and apologise that they travelled or were busy working on the field.”

    Adegbola sought the assistance of President Goodluck Jonathan, Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), South-south, police commissioners of Akwa Ibom and Osun states, director of State Security Service (SSS) and his officers in Akwa Ibom and Osun states, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Eket, Mr. Sunday Digah, to locate Olomo.

    He also sought the help of Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Ooni of Ile-Ife; Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi, the Obong of Calabar and the paramount ruler of Eket, Dr. Timtiniko Enodien.

    The lecturer said the disappearance of the professor was a mystery and shock.

    According to him, the incident has dealt a deadly blow to his colleagues, students, friends and relations.

    Adegbola said anyone with information on Prof Olomo contact the following people: OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole; the Chairman, OAU-ASUU, Ile-Ife, Prof A. P. Akinola – 08056712159; the Chairman, Search Committee, OAU, Ile-Ife, Prof O. O. Jegede – 08034007146; the Chairman Otan Aiyegbaju Progressive Union (OAPU), OAU branch, Ile-Ife, Prof A. J. Farinde – 08033618883 and representative of Olomo Family, Mr. Segun Olomo – 08033580020.

  • Centre seeks protection of journalists’ rights

    The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has urged governments and media stakeholders to protect and respect the rights of journalists.

    In a statement yesterday by its Director, Lanre Arogundade, the centre said the theme for this year’s Human Rights Day was: 20 Years: Working for Your Rights.

    The statement said the theme emphasised the future of people’s rights and identified the challenges ahead.

    The IPC noted that though the 1999 Constitution has provisions for the protection of the right to freedom of expression of journalists and the media, the provisions could not be said to be sufficient, especially if the media were to effectively perform their functions to build and consolidate on the country’s democratic experience.

    It urged the government and media groups to have measures for the protection of journalists from abuse and safeguard them from attacks in their duties.

    “Though the constitution provides some rights for the media, these rights, as provided for in Section 22 of the Constitution, cannot be legally enforced where journalists are obstructed in the process of performing their duties because the whole of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution, where Section 22 is located, is non-justiciable. A journalist whose right has been violated can, therefore, not seek protection of the court, as located in the present 1999 Constitution,” Arogundade said.