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2019 Polls: CPJ Tasks FG to Probe Assault on Journalists

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By Dipo Olowookere

Nigerian authorities have been charged to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the detention, harassment, and assault of journalists nationwide during the March 9 gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

The task was given by the Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement issued on Thursday, saying it was informed that some journalists who covered the polls were detained and harassed by security services or other armed individuals, denied access to report on polling stations, forced to delete photographs, and assaulted.

“The freedom and fairness of any election requires that journalists are permitted to work unimpeded and without fear,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa program coordinator, in New York. “Nigeria must act to ensure journalists can work safely during elections, and the first step is to hold responsible those who attacked or impeded the media during the recent polls.”

Nonso Isiguzo, a news editor with the privately owned Nigeria Info radio station, told CPJ that he was traveling on election day between polling stations to report on elections in the Ahoada West local government area in Rivers state when armed men, some wearing camouflage uniforms, stopped their Nigeria Info-branded car, told Isiguzo and his driver, Sunday Isiitu, to get out, and took their car keys. Shortly afterwards, a second car carrying five others whom Isiguzo identified as journalists with accredited press tags was also stopped at the same point on the road, he said.

“I said, ‘I’m a journalist. I’m just here to monitor the election’,” Isiguzo told CPJ. But the armed men told Isiguzo, without elaborating, that their “boss” was being held by the military and the journalists would only be released once the boss was free.

The men released Isiguzo, Isiitu, and the other journalists after holding them on the side of the road for two hours, after which Isiguzo did not continue reporting in the area, he told CPJ.

CPJ could not immediately determine the identities of the five people from the second car.

On March 10, Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended all election processes in Rivers due to “widespread disruption,” including violence and hostage taking, according to a statement posted on the official election administration body’s verified Twitter account.

Also on election day, Segun Adewale, a local politician known as “Aeroland” and a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), hit and shoved BBC reporter, Ajoke Lijadu-Ulohotse, according to a report by BBC Pidgin, which included video of the incident, and a BBC statement emailed to CPJ.

“We will be notifying the police in due course following an incident involving a BBC reporter in Lagos-Abeokuta on 9 March,” the BBC statement said.

Adewale claimed the BBC “lied” and he did not “beat up a lady,” in a tweet from a social media account linked to his official webpage. CPJ emailed Adewale for comment but received an error message stating that his account was no longer active.

In Damatuzu, a local government area in Nigeria’s northeastern Yobe state, members of the Nigerian military detained for over an hour journalists Musa Mingyi, with the privately owned Blueprint newspaper, and Hamisu Kabir Matazu, of the privately owned Daily Trust newspaper, according to Mingyi and the Daily Trust.

“We told them we are journalists and we are covering [the] election,” Mingyi told CPJ. “They did not harm us, but they denied us access to go do our rightful duties.”

A statement issued on the Nigerian army’s Facebook page by Njoka Irabor, the army’s acting assistant director of public relations, said “no journalist was held hostage” and the journalists’ car was stopped as part of “routine checks on vehicles as part of security measures during the elections.”

CPJ called Irabor repeatedly for comment and was disconnected; texts to his number were not immediately returned.

Kunle Sanni, a reporter for the privately owned Premium Times news website, told CPJ he was held for nearly 30 minutes in the Shendam local government area of Plateau state and forced by three men who identified themselves as “farmers” to delete photos of what he believed were underage voters.

After witnessing Sanni photograph children holding voting cards, the men took him aside, charged his phone because it had died, searched through his apps (including his social media accounts), and deleted images, Sanni said.

“They

[even]

went into the Google backup and deleted [photos],” Sanni said, but added he had already managed to send several photos to his editor.

Collin Ossai, a broadcast reporter with the privately owned Channels TV station, told CPJ that he, his cameraperson, and a radio journalist with Speed FM were blocked from reporting at a polling station in the Esan Central local government area in Edo state.

Ossai said a man identifying himself as a state assembly candidate blocked their car from approaching the polling station at around 7:35 a.m., as the journalists were trying to see if election materials had arrived on time.

Ossai told CPJ that he exited the car and tried negotiate passage with the candidate. But about 10 men surrounded the car and began pushing him and telling him he could not enter the polling station, he said. The journalists left without gaining access, and Ossai said that “big guys” intimidated him into not bringing his camera out while trying to cover several other polling stations in the area.

In Kaduna state, a group of more than 20 men attacked Shinzong Bala, a reporter with the publicly funded Radio Nigeria station, and Amos Tauna, a reporter with the privately owned Daily Post newspaper, while they were investigating alleged election-related arrests and burning cars around the town of Zonkwa’s police station, Bala and Tauna told CPJ.

“We tried to identify ourselves… we were even wearing media vests that were given to us by INEC [the Independent National Electoral Commission],” Bala told CPJ.

The men attacked the journalists with stones and wooden sticks, took Bala’s phone, recorder, and car keys, as well as Tauna’s press pass, the journalists said.

Bala managed to retrieve his belongings after paying the men, but said his clothes were ripped and his body was bruised in the attack. Tauna said his pass was not returned.

CPJ contacted Yakubu Soba, a public relations officer for the Nigerian police in Kaduna, via WhatsApp for comment. Soba requested more specifics about the incident for the police to be able to follow up, which CPJ provided.

During Nigeria’s 2019 federal and state elections, CPJ worked with local civil society and press freedom groups including YIAGA, Civil Society Situation Room, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, Institute for Media and Society, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, and the Lagos-based International Press Centre to track press freedom issues.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via dipo.olowookere@businesspost.ng

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FIRS, Customs Intensify Efforts Towards National Single Window

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Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to advance the federal government’s trade reform agenda through closer collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the National Single Window (NSW) Secretariat.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, hosted the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji, and the Director of the NSW Project, Mr Tola Fakolade, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The high-level meeting reviewed progress on the project and outlined final steps towards its operational take-off in the first quarter of 2026.

Addressing the session, Mr Adeniyi stressed that the NSW is a transformational initiative that will reshape Nigeria’s trade landscape, noting that its success depends on seamless inter-agency collaboration.

“This project is not just about technology; it is about building a modern trade ecosystem where government agencies work as one to serve the trading community with efficiency, transparency, and speed,” Mr Adeniyi said.

Launched in April 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, the NSW is a unified digital platform connecting all trade-related government agencies. The platform is expected to drastically cut bureaucratic bottlenecks, reduce cargo clearance time, lower operators’ costs, and position Nigeria as a more competitive player in global trade.

In his remarks, Mr Adedeji reaffirmed FIRS’ commitment to the project, saying the revenue agency would collaborate fully to ensure the system delivers on its promise of improved compliance, revenue growth, and ease of doing business.

On his part, the NSW Director called on all participating agencies to meet their integration timelines to keep the Q1 2026 launch on track.

It was gathered that the meeting concluded with a shared pledge by the NCS, FIRS, and NSW Secretariat to intensify technical integration, maintain open engagement channels, and keep stakeholders informed.

The platform, when fully operational, will not only enhance revenue generation but also create jobs, strengthen compliance, and provide tangible benefits for businesses, government, and consumers alike.

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How to Protect Youth Culture: Join the Fight Against Content Piracy

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Protecting-Youth-Culture

From Nollywood to Afrobeats to the influencer economy, Nigerian youth are redefining Africa’s digital landscape. Across film, music, and online media, a new generation of creators is building careers that carry Nigeria’s culture onto the global stage. Filmmakers like Isaac Effiong, alongside countless digital storytellers, podcasters, and influencers, are not only entertaining audiences but also shaping how the world sees us. Yet this progress is fragile. Piracy continues to eat away at their hard-earned gains, eroding livelihoods and weakening the foundations of Nigeria’s youth-driven creative economy.

Piracy doesn’t just steal views; it steals creativity, opportunity, and the future of Africa’s storytellers. If you love your music, your shows, or your favourite creators, here’s how to protect youth culture and become a true warrior against piracy.

Step 1: Know What Piracy Looks Like

Piracy isn’t always obvious, so the first step is being able to spot it. It’s not just about pirated DVDs anymore. It happens when movies, music, or shows are uploaded to illegal websites, when cracked apps give you free access to premium content, or even when someone reposts another creator’s video without credit.

If it looks suspiciously free or doesn’t come from an official source, chances are it’s pirated.

Step 2: Understand Why Piracy is a Problem

Piracy might seem harmless, “just one free stream,” but the ripple effects are massive. First, it puts you at risk: those illegal sites often carry malware, viruses, or scams that can steal your data. Second, it exposes you to unsafe and inappropriate content. Most importantly, it weakens the creative economy.

The global creator industry is worth over $250 billion, and African youth are leading its growth. When piracy takes money away from creators, it makes it harder for them to keep producing the music, shows, and films you love.

Step 3: Support Legit Platforms

The best way to fight piracy is to reward creators by consuming their work through the right channels. That means using official apps for streaming, paying subscription fees that directly support African creatives, and following verified accounts.

Think of it like buying an original jersey to support your favourite football club; it’s your way of saying, “I value your work.”

Step 4: Be a Culture Warrior

You’re not just a consumer of culture; you’re part of it. Every choice you make online either protects or harms it. Being a culture warrior means reporting pirated content when you see it, avoiding dodgy links even if they’re free, and educating your friends about why piracy hurts all of us.

Remember: when piracy wins, originality loses. And when originality loses, our voices fade.

Step 5: Take Action Today

The fight against piracy isn’t for tomorrow; it starts now. You can:

  • Report piracy to official hotlines and emails. These reports help shut down illegal networks.

  • Share the message on your social media and spread awareness so your peers know the dangers of piracy.

  • Call it out when you see someone circulating pirated content. Sometimes, people simply don’t realise the harm.

  • Double-check your sources before downloading or streaming. If it’s not from a legit platform, skip it.

Report Piracy Hotlines & Emails: +27 11 289 2684, piracy@multichoice.co.za, mcg@irdeto.com, supersport@irdeto.com.

This fight is not for another day; it starts now. Culture only thrives when we defend it, and it is in the hands of this generation to safeguard the originality, fairness, and creativity that Nigerian youth are celebrated for worldwide. Protecting your favourite music, movies, and creators is more than loyalty; it is an investment in a future where Africa’s stories remain authentically ours.

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NEPC Reiterates Standardisation of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Sector

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solid minerals sector

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has reiterated its commitment to standardising Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, with a renewed focus on formalising artisanal mining activities and promoting value-added exports.

Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC made the commitment at a strategic engagement themed Standardisation of Solid Minerals and Artisanal Miners’ Activities on Thursday in Bauchi.

The ED, represented by a Deputy Director of the agency, Mrs Ngozi Ibe, highlighted the vast untapped potential within the sector while acknowledging persistent challenges such as informal mining practices, inadequate technology and limited access to funding.

“This engagement is a critical step as it provides a platform to share ideas, promote clustering, and encourage value addition along the minerals value chain,” she said.

Mrs Ayeni emphasised NEPC’s strategic focus areas: enhancing the capacity of exporters, leveraging technology, expanding market access and supporting value-added exports.

“Notably, solid minerals have now been officially included in NEPC’s One State-One Product (OSOP) initiative, following a resolution from the 16th National Council on Commerce, Trade, and Investment held in Lagos,” she said.

She called on the Bauchi State Export Promotion Committee to implement these resolutions for inclusive stakeholder participation and sectorial growth.

She added that the NEPC is pursuing initiatives such as establishing mineral clusters, formalising cross-border trade and creating export skill acquisition centres to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Also present at the event, Mr Musa Pali, Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Bauchi chapter, applauded the initiative, saying it would help curb illegal mining and improve access to funding and equipment.

Mrs Fatie Isha, Bauchi State Coordinator for Women in Mining (WIMN), also commended NEPC, noting that standardisation would enhance the participation of women miners in cross-border trade, urging the government to create a more supportive environment for women in the sector.

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