News
NGE Tasks 36 New Members, 15 Fellows On Objective Reporting …As FG Assures Prosecution Of Electoral Offenders
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has inducted 36 new members and 15 members as Fellows of the Guild.
The induction followed a Gala Night organised, last Saturday, for the Guild by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to conclude the 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2022 in Owerri.
In his address, Uzodinma called for stronger ties between the media and the political class to usher more development.
The governor said democracy had proven to be the best form of governance anywhere in the world.
“It is also given that for democracy to triumph, the political class and government cannot do much without the media.
“All I ask of you is the understanding of the essence of democracy in any jurisdiction.
“I ask of you to understand the need to protect our land, national interests, be focused and objective, and for us to create a convivial environment for every stakeholder to contribute to national development,” he said.
Uzodinma also urged the media and editors to change and correct the wrong perception and narratives being created about Africa by foreign media.
He expressed consternation that Nigeria’s democracy was still described as “nascent’’ even after many years of uninterrupted democracy.
“I want to plead with you to take courage; it may not look like what you are expecting, but there is hope for Nigeria.
“We must stop spending money and energy lamenting on the nation’s problems, but rather proffer solutions,’’ he stressed.
The governor, who described himself as “the most blackmailed politician in Nigeria’’ also called for objective thinking and reportage as well as constructive criticism of his administration.
In his remarks, President of the Guild, Mr Mustapha Isah, commended the lofty projects executed by the governor, particularly the 33-km Owerri-Orlu Road; 28-km Owerri-Okigwe Road, and the state-of-the-art House of Assembly complex.
Isah urged the governor to remain focused and disregard the antics of detractors.
The president also advised the governor to spread the money of the state in providing for the elderly people.
Speaking on their observations after a tour of projects executed by Uzodinma, a Fellow of the Guild, Barrister Ajayi Gbadebo, urged the governor to sustain his tempo of development.
Gbadebo, who lauded the road infrastructure, particularly around Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, appealed to the governor to ensure that water runs at the teaching hospital in Orlu.
The Executive Director of DAAR Communications Plc., Mr Imoni Amarere, shared Gbadebo’s views.
He urged the governor to sustain efforts in developing the rural areas.
The inducted Fellows of the Guild included former NAN Editor-in-Chief, Mr Alli Hakeem and Dr Reuben Abati, former Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Some others are former Managing Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers, Eze Victor Awogu and Lagos State qCommissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso.
Earlier during the executive session of the 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2022, last Friday, the Editors had stressed the need for Media Independence and Security to achieve fair, factual and objective Journalism.
In his contribution at the executive session, the Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martin Oloja, identified the need for financial independence for free, fair and objective journalism.
Oloja stated that because of the loss of financial independence, the media cannot function effectively in monitoring the activities of politicians, especially if they rely on them for sponsorship.
He said this had severely limited the social responsibility role of the press and reduced accountability on the part of the political class.
“The biggest advertisers are those, who we are expected to hold accountable and because proprietors are interested in the survival of their medium, this role is often cast aside,” he said.
Oloja noted that the expectation of the media’s public has not changed, adding that objectivity, fairness and factual reports remained the watchword.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Sun Newspapers, Mr Onuoha Uke, noted that the media has the responsibility of setting the agenda as the general election approached.
Uke explained that Editors should be given room to play their roles as key stakeholders in the struggle for good governance by ensuring independence of the press is not compromised.
He called for security, free access to election venues and collation centres to ensure transparency and accurate reportage of the entire electoral process.
“The media has played major roles in democracy and has been in the forefront in demanding good governance right from before Nigeria gained independence.
“Journalists have set the pace and been in charge of moulding public opinion and response to topical issues and the present is an auspicious time for setting agenda to fulfill our responsibility of ensuring democracy survives,” Uke noted.
Also contributing, the Publisher of Real News Magazine, Mrs Maureen Chigbo, emphasised the need for proper information to get across to the public for informed decisions.
Chigbo stressed the need for the media to go all out to verify every fact before publishing particularly before, during and after the elections.
She equally urged the public to check the facts and rely on verified media houses and practitioners for accurate reports and take note of pointers to false news.
Chigbo stated that such news reports are often inconsistent, repetitive and poorly scripted and warned against reposting of such reports by the public.
“Information is power and it is my hope that the public has access to true information, because of this, the media should ensure balance and objectivity in their reports and stick to the ethics of the profession to help build a progressive society,” Chigbo concluded.
While delivering a paper on “2023 General Election And Security: What Editors Need to Know”, the National Security Adviser to the President, Babagana Monguno, reassured the readiness of the Federal Government to deal decisively with electoral offenders and ensure they don’t go unpunished.
Monguno, who was represented by the Head of Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr Zakari Usman, said, “It is important to note that one of the major threats to security is electoral violence which berths national security.
“We are continuously addressing the security risk from fake news and hate speech and through collaborative efforts.
“The government is working with social media companies to ensure the safety of the 2023 general election,” he said.
Monguno listed eight categories of electoral violence to include party on party electoral violence; party on voter electoral violence; party on state electoral violence and; voter on voter electoral violence.
Others are voter on state electoral violence; state on voter electoral violence; state on party electoral violence and state on state electoral violence.
Monguno, however, said that ensuring security during elections was not the sole responsibility of enforcement agencies alone.
While stating that security and the media hardly agree on what constitutes national security, he urged the media to report their news without amplifying the agenda of detractors sponsoring political insecurity.
“Critical stakeholders in the electoral process including the press must discharge their duties effectively and efficiently in ensuring security during elections,” Monguno added.
The NSA urged the media to be collaborators with the government on issues of national interest by balancing their reports and promoting national unity and cohesion in their reportage.
Monguno, who further urged the media to put in place fact checking system to contend with fake news by citizen journalists, expressed concern over inciting statements by state and non-state actors.
He, therefore, advised the media to take proactive measures to address the proliferation of fake news.
In a presentation at the executive session, Imo State Governor, Senator Governor Hope Uzodinma, commended the fair and objective reporting style of journalists in the country, saying it has contributed to his administration’s successes.
Uzodinma thanked the Editors for their role in the buildup to the elections that saw his emergence as governor, and urged them not to relent in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.
He called on Editors to find time to tour the state so as to observe firsthand the achievements of his administration so as to better appreciate the role of the media in people -oriented governance.
Uzodinma listed the achievements to include the revamping of the state’s water scheme, sanitisation of the State’s Civil Service, road construction and rehabilitation as well as an aggressive fight against criminality.
He said that his 3R mantra of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery led to the successful renovation of health centres, resuscitation of the Ada Palm plantation through Public Private Partnership.
He added that he also restored accreditation to the state’s university while dredging the Orashi river and other waterways and training youths on digital skills.
“It is important that you editors use this opportunity to see how far we have gone in delivering good governance. The unique circumstances that fueled my governorship ambition were divinely inspired.
“My ambition was almost truncated by a high level conspiracy but your objective reportage of events really helped the situation,” he noted.
Uzodinma said that his administration provided official vehicles for permanent secretaries and High Court Judges in the state to smoothen the process of service delivery.
According to him, Imo was ready for business as it was once again, secure.
“Imo has regained her lost glory as the hospitality capital of the South-East. We are ready for business.
“Journalists have been kind, fair and objective in telling our story. Together we can do many things “, Uzodinma assured.
The event was attended by Chairman of the conference, Prof. Stella Okunna, and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, as well as Editors from the Print, Electronic and Online Media from across Nigeria.
The theme of the ANEC 2022 Conference is, “2023 : Political Landscape, Credible Elections And The Role of Editors.”
By: Nelson Chukwudi
News
NDLEA Intercepts Saudi-Bound Drugs Hidden In Palm Oil Keg In Kano …Recovers N6.9bn Tramadol At Apapa Port
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The agency also uncovered 8,725 kilograms of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, and seized large quantities of illicit drugs across NDLEA intercepts Saudi-Bound drugs hidden in palm oil keg at the airport.
Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), disclosed this in a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, yesterday.
According to the statement, officers at Kano airport on Friday, October 16, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, with a gallon of palm oil containing 511.75 grams of skunk during outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
She told operatives that the keg was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was arrested at the airport car park.
In another operation at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos, operatives in a joint examination with Customs on October 2 uncovered a large shipment of powdered tramadol from India declared as maize starch.
Laboratory test confirmed it to be tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from concealment on October 14, it came to 349 bags weighing 8,725kg with street value of over N6.98 billion.
In a separate operation at Tincan Port on October 12, NDLEA officers discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud worth N165 million hidden in brown cartons inside a Toyota Sienna conveyed in a 40-foot container.
In Lagos, operatives raided Idumota market on October 14 and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
On October 15, two men were arrested in Mushin – Idowu Daudu with 59.95kg of skunk and Ahmed Oniyinde with 61.23kg. Same day, operatives intercepted a truck from Trade Fair market along Iyana Oba, arresting loading manager, Adeduntan and his assistant Azeez Sikiru, and recovering 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East LGA between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects including 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka with 179kg of skunk at Warake; Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg cannabis, seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grams of Loud.
In Ondo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying 7,500kg skunk on three hectares and arresting five suspects – Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
Exhibits recovered were 92 bags weighing 1,267kg, 11kg seeds and 3kg stems.
In Owo on October 16, 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi was arrested with 25 bags weighing 375kg.
In Bauchi, 894,800 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were recovered from Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA on October 14, while 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg were recovered from an abandoned car along Bauchi-Gombe road.
In Kano, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along Zaria-Kano road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg, while Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato on October 14 with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna, operatives arrested Mohammed Sani, 48, Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29, and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg cannabis at Kayimi village, and John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road. In Abuja, Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, was arrested at Utako on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
The immediate past Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, has called for acceleration of enrollments into the State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
Oreh made the call in a keynote address at the Rivers State Health sectors Joint Annual Review (JAR) meeting in Port Harcourt, recently.
She said this was necessary in order to ensure that no Rivers family is pushed into poverty due to medical bills.
The former Commissioner also called for the training and retraining of medical and health workers in the State with a view to deploying skilled health professionals to underserved rural and the riverine areas of the State.
She also called for the sustenance of the ongoing health facilities and infrastructural upgrade across the State to ensure quality health services to the people.
Oreh harped on the need to strengthen accountability and institutional integrity in the healthcare system, saying, “progress without accountability is fleeting.
“To build the trust of our people and the state partners, accountability must be non negotiable.”
She described the event as a decisive moment in the healthcare programme of the State.
“We gather here today at a critical juncture in Rivers State’s health system’s journey. This assembly is not a mere ritual of administrative reporting; it is a decisive moment of reflection, evaluation, and strategic alignment.
“Today, we stand at the intersection of where we have been, where we are, and where we must go to guarantee the health and well-being of every resident of Rivers State.
“The mandate of this year’s JAR is clear: we must turn evidence into action, and data into tangible human impact,” she said.
The former commissioner said the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has over the last three years prioritized the healthcare needs of the State through the provision of infrastructure and upgrading of healthcare centres across the 23 local government areas.
“Over the past year, under the leadership and vision of the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, bold strides have been taken to fortify the health sector architecture.
“The baseline strength of healthcare delivery has been prioritised by upgrading primary healthcare centres across all our 23 local government areas, ensuring that basic health interventions are brought closer to where our people live and work,” she stated.
Oreh emphasised that public health intelligence systems have been reinforced by the Fubara administration, thereby ensuring rapid response capabilities to potential disease outbreaks and safeguarding our communities against health emergencies.
“Through targeted interventions and partnership programmes, there has been an expansion of access to essential care for our women and children, the very backbone of our state’s future.
“These achievements demonstrate what is possible when political will aligns with technical rigour. However, consolidation means ensuring that we step beyond achievement to determine that these gains are resilient, scalable, and resistant to disruption” Oreh said.
The former health commissioner also said that every resources allocated to health in Rivers State from public funds to partner contributions must yield measurable health outcomes.
“The systematic elimination of bottlenecks, reducing of waste, and enforcing strict stewardship of health sector investments is critical.
” Your ultimate accountability is to the citizens of Rivers State. Access to compassionate, high-quality, and respectful healthcare is a fundamental expectation, and you must be committed to upholding that trust across all communities.
“As we look toward 2027, your strategic priorities must be bold, realistic, and focused on lasting structural transformation. In this Joint Annual Review, our discussions must crystallize into four core strategic pillars,” she advised.
Oreh said since no government can succeed in isolation. the strengthening of multi-sectoral collaborations with development partners, private sector innovators, and civil society organisations must remain an unflinching commitment.
She stressed the need for participants at the meeting to challenge assumptions, examine the evidence critically, acknowledge gaps candidly, and co-create solutions that are tailored to the unique realities of Rivers State.
In his welcomes address the Permanent Secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, said the task before the ministry this year is to examine what has changed for the people who depend on the services of the ministry.
According to him, the review this year was organised around six questions covering survival and equity, continuity of care, quality, system capability, health intelligence and implementation of corrective action.
“Our responsibilities are to identify the requirements relevant to Rivers State and organise the evidence and institutional action needed to meet them,” he said.
By: John Bibor, Francis Obomate & Jimoh Omosefe
Two senior police officers, including the Divisional Police Officer of the Abuloma Police Division in Rivers State, have been removed from their positions following allegations that suspected cultists renovated a police facility under their jurisdiction.
The other officer is the divisional officer overseeing the affected police outpost.
The Rivers State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The Police said the action followed a viral video showing suspected cultists visiting the facility on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the renovation.
The statement, titled ‘Rivers State Police Command Condemns Purported Renovation of Abuloma Police Outpost by Suspected Cultists, Relieves Officers, Orders Full Investigation’, said the command had ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The command condemned any action or association capable of compromising the integrity, discipline and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force or conferring legitimacy, recognition or acceptance on suspected cult groups or other unlawful organisations.
The police image maker said the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had ordered a full-scale investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the renovation and the veracity of the allegations.
The identities and backgrounds of the individuals or groups that financed or facilitated the renovation would also be investigated, alongside the roles played by police personnel.
The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has taken cognisance of a trending social media report and circulating video alleging that suspected cultists renovated the Abuloma Police Outpost and visited the facility on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the renovation.
“The Command strongly condemns any action or association capable of compromising the integrity, discipline and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force or conferring legitimacy, recognition or acceptance on suspected cult groups or other unlawful organisations.
“Police facilities are public institutions established for the protection of citizens and the enforcement of law and must not become platforms through which criminal groups seek public validation or influence.
“Under the leadership of CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, the Command maintains zero tolerance for criminality and any conduct that undermines public confidence in the Police.
“Consequently, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Abuloma Division and the Divisional Officer overseeing the affected Police Outpost have been queried and relieved of their duties pending investigation.
“Furthermore, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a full investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the veracity of the allegations, including the identities and backgrounds of the individuals or groups who financed or facilitated the renovation.”
The statement added that the investigation would examine whether the project was authorised, whether due procedures were followed, and whether any police officer breached professional standards or compromised the integrity of the force.
It said, “The Command welcomes legitimate community support for improving police facilities, consistent with Section 26(1)(d) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which provides for gifts and contributions to the Police General Fund.
“However, such support must not compromise police independence, professional standards or security.
“The investigation will establish whether the necessary approvals were obtained and appropriate checks conducted on those who financed or facilitated the renovation.
“No donation or assistance confers immunity from investigation or prosecution.
“The Command reiterates that it will not condone unprofessional conduct or compromise any form of improper association with criminal elements by any police officer.
“All personnel are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline, integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.”
The command said appropriate disciplinary and legal action would be taken against anyone found culpable, in line with the outcome of the investigation and extant laws.
It urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to provide credible and timely information to the police to enhance security across the State.
The Tide reports that a viral video circulated online had shown suspected cultists posing as students, occasionally chanting “greatest Nigerian students” before using what appeared to be cult-related slogans.
The individuals were seen wearing black trousers and white shirts, with some wearing red fez caps and others black berets, celebrating in front of the renovated facility alongside some police officers.
A popular online anti-cultism platform, Naija Confra, also posted videos and pictures showing the suspected cultists chanting slogans, including “Aromate”, at the station last Thursday, shortly after taking pictures with officers at the facility.
The incident, which occurred on October 15, 2026, was said to have coincided with activities marking the annual anniversary of the Vikings confraternity.