General
Human Rights Watch Tasks Tinubu on Media Freedom, Security
By Adedapo Adesanya
Human Rights Watch has tasked Nigeria’s incoming President, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure that human rights and media freedom are central to all his policies both at home and abroad.
The rights body on Thursday outlined key human rights priorities for the new administration and urged the new administration to prioritize improvements in five key areas.
They are: to promote civilian protection in conflict areas; respect and protect media freedom and the right to free expression; bolster the social safety net to tackle entrenched poverty and inequality; protect and promote the rights of internally displaced people; and adopt a foreign policy that centres human rights.
“Tinubu is set to take the reins at a time of deep uncertainty about the nation’s affairs, including worsening poverty and inequality, high levels of insecurity, and recurrent violations of civil and political rights,” said Mr Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Once in office, the president-elect should focus on these critical issues and try to reverse course on significant human rights backsliding.”
Mr Tinubu, who was declared winner of the February 2023 presidential elections, is to be inaugurated on May 29 for a four-year term. The elections were marred with irregularities, including violence at the polls and an inability to upload election results from polling units in real-time.
The inauguration occurs amid petitions challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory at the Court of Appeal, which functions as the presidential election tribunal.
In his campaign manifesto, Mr Tinubu emphasized “security of life and property” as a top priority for his administration. He stated that part of his strategy to achieve this is to “first pull most Nigerians out of poverty and provide the basic needs for a decent life and social justice for all, irrespective of region, tribe, and religion.”
Human Rights Watch urged President-elect Tinubu, once in office, to act on his campaign promises to tackle critical levels of insecurity, ensure civilian protection and accountability for rights abuses, protect Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression, and prioritize efforts towards the realization of an adequate standard of living for all.
“The incoming administration should also support constitutional democracies, especially in West Africa, and stand up for fundamental rights and democratic freedoms in its foreign policy considerations,” it said in a statement.
It noted that Nigeria has failed to ensure economic and social rights for everyone, including the right to an adequate standard of living.
“According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 133 million people live in multidimensional poverty, experiencing high levels of deprivation in areas including sanitation, health care, food, and housing. Inequality has also reached extreme levels as the gap between the rich and the poor widens alarmingly.
“However, the country lacks a functioning social security system to protect against economic shocks and income insecurity throughout people’s lives, including during common life events such as old age, unemployment, sickness or giving birth, and caring for dependents.
“In the Northwest, gangs commonly called “bandits” carry out widespread killings, kidnappings, sexual violence, and looting. In the Northeast, the conflict between the Islamist armed group Boko Haram, its breakaway factions, and the Nigerian security forces has killed an estimated 350,000 civilians and created a humanitarian crisis that includes the displacement of more than 2 million civilians within Nigeria and over 280,000 to Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. In the Southeast, anti-government groups clamouring for secession kill and maim people to enforce their sit-at-home order requiring people to stay home to shut down all public places, including businesses and schools.
“Security forces responding to the insecurity and in other instances across the country are implicated in gross human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests, illegal detention, and extrajudicial killings. Security forces also use excessive force to suppress citizens’ rights to protest, while the authorities have repeatedly failed to hold officers responsible for abuses to account.
“Government actions also indicate significant regression on the right to free expression and media freedom. These include an eight-month ban on Twitter in 2021, efforts to introduce a social media bill aimed at criminalizing government critics, arrests and detentions of critics and journalists, and sanctions on media outlets for critical reporting,” the group noted.
“Tinubu promised to address the cycle of violence, injustices, and endemic poverty that millions of Nigerians face daily.
“The incoming president should put his words into action by taking steps to improve human rights and ensuring that his administration shows the utmost regard for the rule of law and democratic principles,” Mr Ewing added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, June 12, 2025, conferred national honours on some late pro-democracy activists in Nigeria.
While delivering his speech at a joint session of the National Assembly today, Mr Tinubu also conferred the honours on other citizens still alive, appreciating them for speaking out when the military governed the nation many years ago.
The federal government declared today a public holiday to celebrate Democracy Day. This day was chosen for such because on June 12, 1993, Nigerians voted to elect a president, but the military, under Mr Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the exercise despite it being described as the freest and fairest in the history of the country.
The election was believed to have been won by late MKO Abiola, but he died on July 7, 1998, while in detention because he declared himself as president.
During his message to the lawmakers on Thursday, President Tinubu honoured the late wife of Mr Abiola, Kudirat, as well as the late Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Bola Ige.
Below is the full list of the recipient of the national honours;
Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (GCFR), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (CON), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (CON), Alhaji Balarabe Musa (CFR), Pa Alfred Rewani (CFR), Bagauda Kaltho (OON), Chima Ubani (OON), Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (CON), Alao Aka Bashorun (CON), Chief Frank Kokori (CON), Emma Ezeazu (OON), Bamidele Aturu (OON), and Fredrick Fasehun (CON).
Others are Professor Festus Iyayi (CON), Dr John Yima Sen (OON), Alhaja Sawaba Gambo (CON), Dr. Edwin Madunagu (CON), Dr. Alex Ibru (CON), Chief Bola Ige (CFR), Pa Reuben Fasoranti (CFR), Sen. Ayo Fasanmi (CON), Sen. Polycarp Nwite (CON) and Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo (CON).Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Prof. Olatunji Dare (CON), the journalist and journalism teacher; Kunle Ajibade (OON); Nosa Igiebor (OON), Dapo Olorunyomi (OON), Bayo Onanuga (CON), Ayo Obe (OON), Dare Babarinsa (CON), and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON).
The rest are Senator Shehu Sani (CON), Governor Uba Sani (CON), Barrister Femi Falana, SAN (CON), Prof. Shafideen Amuwo (CON), Barrister Luke Aghanenu (OON), Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi (CON), Labaran Maku (OON), Dr. Tunji Alausa (CON), Mr Nick Dazang (OON), Abdul Oroh (OON), Odia Ofeimun (CON), Seye Kehinde (OON), Barrister Felix Morka (CON) Barrister Ledum Mitee (CON), Olawale Osun (CON), Dr Amos Akingba (CON), Prof. Segun Gbadegesin (CON), Mobolaji Akinyemi (CFR), Dr Kayode Shonoiki (CON), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (CON), Prof. Bayo Williams (CON), Senator Abu Ibrahim (CFR), and Senator Ame Ebute (CFR).
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Navy, under Operation Delta Sanity, has uncovered and destroyed multiple illegal crude oil storage pits in Obodo Omadino Community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The operation, carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Delta), dealt another major blow to the organised network of illegal crude oil refining syndicates operating in the Niger Delta.
According to the Navy, the dug-out pits, hidden deep in the creeks, were filled with a significant but unspecified quantity of stolen crude oil.
This latest action follows earlier raids in the same community between June 1 and 5, during which Naval forces dismantled 28 illegal crude oil pits and seized numerous sacks of stolen oil.
The Navy emphasized that Tuesday’s raid reinforces its warning to oil thieves that there will be no hiding place.
“This discovery is part of our sustained effort to dismantle the infrastructure of crude oil theft in the region. These operations will continue relentlessly,” an official statement noted.
The Navy reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economic assets and called on local communities to support the ongoing campaign by providing credible intelligence.
“We urge citizens to stand with us in this fight. Crude oil theft is a national economic crime, and we will continue to act decisively against it,” the Navy added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reiterated its strong support for Nigeria’s energy transition plan, which involves tapping into various sustainable energy efforts, including hydro, solar, and others renewables to complement its hydrocarbons options to create enough value in its energy sector.
The First Secretary for Climate Diplomacy in the British High Commission, Ms Samantha Harrison, during a visit to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Abuja, emphasised the United Kingdom’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria on climate and energy initiatives.
Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration to reduce gas flaring, an essential component of Nigeria’s decarbonisation strategy.
The visit highlights the UK’s ongoing dedication to supporting Nigeria’s sustainable energy goals and fostering climate-resilient development as a pathway to long-term economic growth.
In his remarks, the chief executive of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, reaffirmed the agency’s leadership role in driving decarbonisation within Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Mr Komolafe stated that the commission is implementing a dual strategy to address gas flaring: by decarbonising flare sites, and by converting flared gas into valuable economic assets.
This approach not only mitigates environmental impact but also enhances national revenue generation.
Business Post reported recently that Nigeria lost over N710 billion to gas flaring.
A key initiative in this effort is the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) which currently includes 49 identified flare sites.
The programme is designed to harness previously wasted gas resources and channel them into productive use, contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
Mr Komolafe also acknowledged the support received from multilateral organisations such as the World Bank and Net Zero World and expressed optimism about future collaboration with the British High Commission to further enhance the Commission’s decarbonisation efforts.
During the visit, officials of the commission and the British High Commission delegation held a technical session towards fostering a robust partnership.
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