General
Group Accuses FG of Encouraging Attacks on Journalists
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has accused the federal government of encouraging attacks on journalists and media organisations in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Communications Officer, Mr Idowu Adewale, the group claimed that the attacks on media practitioners were mostly executed by security agents or other government officials and hoodlums.
The organisation observed that, at least, seven media professionals and a media organization had fallen victim to various forms of attacks in recent times.
The statement stressed that the central government’s failure to act on bringing justice to the perpetrators of such crimes was a direct cause of the heightened attacks against the media.
MRA stated, “The growing spate of attacks against the media is alarming and having a negative impact on freedom of expression as it is stifling the media environment, thereby impeding the freedom and ability of journalists and media organizations to carry out their professional duties.
“It should be a matter of embarrassment to the federal government that despite the extremely alarming rate of attacks and crimes against journalists, it cannot point to a single instance over the years, since the inception of this administration, where the perpetrators of such attacks have been arrested, prosecuted and punished.
“The government’s inaction and apparent refusal to reprimand its officials, who are guilty of such conduct, is clearly being interpreted as an open season for anyone who is so inclined to attack journalists.”
MRA further highlighted some of the recent attacks against journalists, which include, “Mr Oriyomi Hamzat, a journalist, Managing Director and founder of Agidigbo 88.7FM in Ibadan, Oyo State, who was arrested on May 26, 2022, by officers of the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police in Ibadan and taken to Abuja, after he honoured an invitation by the Oyo State Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police over a complaint to the police by a suspect in a murder trial, which the radio station had consistently covered;
“Mr Yinka Adeniran, The Nation newspaper’s reporter attached to the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan, who was on May 25, 2022, beaten up and had teargas sprayed directly into his eyes, nose and mouth by a police officer while he was covering the governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan;
“An attack by gunmen on May 30, 2022, on the premises of the state-owned Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) in Awada, Onitsha, during which they brutalised and inflicted injuries on some of the staff, and burnt down one of the station’s buildings, a company bus and another vehicle belonging to a staff of the station;
“The shooting by an operative of the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police on May 31, 2022, of the Osun State correspondent of The Nation newspaper, Mr Toba Adedeji, while he was covering a students’ protest in Osogbo over the alleged extrajudicial killing of Mr Abiola Afolabi, who was killed by policemen on April 4, 2022;
“The arrest of a reporter, Mr Fatai Akanji, and deputy editor, Mr Uthman Ismail, both with the Osun Defender newspaper, by a policeman attached to the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police on May 31, 2022, for undisclosed reasons.”
The organisation then called on the federal government to institute measures to apprehend the perpetrators of these attacks and crimes against journalists and bring them to justice, as well as forestall future occurrences, especially as the 2023 general elections draw nearer.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Three persons believed to be behind the Q-Net scam in Nigeria have been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The suspects, who allegedly operated the scheme under the name Mighty Infinity Millionaire Limited, were arrested by officials of the agency on Wednesday, May 1, 2025, in Abuja.
They are Olaniyan Joshua, Oyetunde Julius Akano, and Victor Oluwale, and are currently undergoing interrogation.
A statement from the EFCC said the accused persons falsely claimed to be representatives of Q-net, a global e-commerce and direct selling company.
While Q-net has since denied any link with the suspects and their activities, investigations further revealed they were equally running a fraudulent university training in pavilions and under trees, offering fake Bachelor of Science degrees in Medicine, Nursing, Cybersecurity, Computer Studies, and Geology, among others with a false claim of affiliation with Quest International University, Malaysia.
Student victims were charged between N1.2 million and N1.3 million as registration fees from which the suspected scammers raked in hundreds of millions in proceeds of crime.
Earlier on March 24, 2025, the commission raided Q-net University at Compensation Layout, Gwagwalada, FCT, Abuja, and arrested 133 suspects.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigerians may lose access to the social media platforms operated by Meta, a report by the BBC has said.
If this happens, it will not be the first time social media users in the country have experienced such blackout.
Recall that in 2021, the Nigerian government banned Twitter after the platform removed a post by the immediate past president of the country, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, for violating its rules.
The embargo was lifted in January 2022 after seven months.
Last week, Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal on Friday ordered WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated to pay a $220 million penalty and $35,000 to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) within 60 days over data discrimination practices in Nigeria.
The tribunal’s three-member panel, led by Mr Thomas Okosun, in a verdict last Friday, dismissed the appeal by WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated regarding the $220 million penalty imposed by the FCCPC for alleged discriminatory practices in Nigeria.
In a report, the BBC said Meta argued that if it is forced to pay the fine, its users in Nigeria may lose access to Facebook and Instagram.
“The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” the company said in the court papers.
If this happens, it may greatly affect content creators, who rely on the platform for earnings.
Facebook remains one of the most popular social media platforms in the country like TikTok and Twitter, now known as X after Mr Elon Musk acquired it.
Meta is battling with different fines in Nigeria, including a $32.8 million sanction from the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) alleged Meta over data privacy laws, and a $37.5 million fine for unapproved advertising.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has outlined demands to the federal government while expressing deep concerns over the deteriorating economic conditions of workers as the world marks the International Workers’ Day (May 1).
NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, said Nigerian workers are groaning because of poor pay as a result of the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu as well as growing insecurity and political interference in labour affairs across the country.
Mr Ajaero described the current state of the Nigerian economy as hostile to workers, noting that the removal of fuel subsidy, Naira devaluation and rising inflation have plunged millions of households into deeper poverty.
He maintained that the current economic trajectory has eroded the value of wages, rendering workers helpless and unable to meet basic needs.
“It is clear that the policies of the government, particularly the ill-timed and unstructured removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira, have pushed Nigerian workers and their families to the brink,” he said.
The NLC president reiterated the labour union’s position on the new minimum wage, stating that N70, 000 is the barest minimum that workers can accept under the current economic conditions. He argued that the amount, though still insufficient considering the skyrocketing cost of living, could serve as a starting point for negotiation.
He lamented the increasing hunger facing workers in the country, “We are hungry,” he said, adding that, “The minimum wage cannot buy a bag of rice. If you are sincere and you go to work every day, 20 days, your salary is gone on transportation.
“We are not asking for luxury. We are simply demanding a wage that allows a worker to live a dignified life, pay rent, feed their families, send their children to school, and transport themselves to work.”
He said that even this figure would need to be adjusted periodically to keep pace with inflation and market forces.
“If the government can effectively implement some of the measures they have put in place -such as the N70, 000 minimum wage, the CNG transport system, and the students’ loan- then one can say that the renewed hope idea is working. I think the foundation has been laid, but we need the real implementation of these,” he stated.
On energy and transport, he criticised the government’s failure to deliver on the promised palliatives to cushion the effect of subsidy removal. He cited the delay in rolling out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure and vehicles, which was supposed to provide affordable alternatives to petrol-powered transportation.
“They promised us CNG buses. Where are they? They promised wage awards. Many states have not implemented anything. The promises made last year have remained largely on paper,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of energy reforms, especially in the transportation sector, to alleviate the burden on workers who spend a significant portion of their income on transportation.
Mr Ajaero also raised concerns over the inconsistencies in salary payments and implementation of wage awards across various states and federal agencies.
He noted that many state governments have either failed to implement the approved wage increases or are paying workers below the agreed minimum wage, thereby violating labour agreements.
He pointed out that the disparities in the federal and state public service salary structures were unacceptable and called for immediate harmonisation, including a review of salary step progression and grade levels to ensure equity.
The NLC president further urged the government to reform the country’s tax regime, which he said unfairly targets the poor while allowing multinational corporations and political elite to evade taxes.
“It is only in Nigeria that someone earning N50, 000 a month is taxed heavily while the real billionaires are not paying their fair share. This system must change,” he said.
Additionally, the labour leader condemned the growing state of insecurity in many parts of the country, which he said not only affects productivity but, also, endangers the lives of workers, especially those in rural communities and high-risk professions.
He also criticised the decay in the health and education sectors, lamenting that many workers can no longer afford basic healthcare or quality education for their children. Turning to internal challenges within the labour movement, he decried the increasing political interference in union activities, particularly in Rivers and Edo states.
He accused state governors of undermining the autonomy of the trade unions, suppressing workers’ voices, and in some cases, promoting parallel union leadership to create division.
“In Rivers State, we are witnessing a complete breakdown of labour-government relations. Retirees are not being paid, union meetings are disrupted, and workers’ rights are trampled upon. In Edo, we are dealing with a crisis of leadership instigated by the state government,” he alleged.
He urged the federal government to call erring state governors to order and protect the rights of workers as enshrined in the Constitution to prevent the escalation of events in those states. He further stated the status of no May Day celebrations in the states still stands. He challenged the government to prioritise social services in its spending plans and cut waste in governance.
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