A storm of outrage has erupted across Nigeria’s media landscape as the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria issued a blistering condemnation of the Akwa Ibom State Government’s shocking expulsion of a Channels Television correspondent and cameraman from the Government House. The journalists were reportedly thrown out on the orders of state officials after airing footage that captured Governor Umo Eno appearing to flirt with the idea of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The video clip, which went viral, triggered political ripples—and now, a ferocious backlash over what many are calling a blatant…
Author: National Update
As Nigeria edges toward the midpoint of President Bola Tinubu’s first term, a surge in defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked concerns of a creeping one-party state. But public affairs analyst and Country First Movement convener, Chris Nwakobia, says what looks like political dominance is actually panic—and Nigerians won’t stand for it. Appearing Friday on The Morning Show on ARISE News, Nwakobia took aim at what he described as a fear-driven agenda by the Tinubu administration to neutralize opposition through orchestrated defections and premature endorsements. “The APC is in panic mode,” he said. “A government confident…
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has barred Channels Television from covering activities at the Government House Press Centre in Uyo. This followed the station’s broadcast of a video in which the governor openly discussed plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The footage, aired on Friday, reportedly embarrassed the governor. Sources revealed that his spokesperson, Ekerete Udoh, summoned members of the press corps on Saturday and informed the Channels TV crew—correspondent Christopher Moffat and cameraman Kufre Ikpe—that they had been barred. Governor Eno’s reaction came shortly after Channels TV Chairman,…
By Ahmed Rufa’i As the world marks the 2025 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has announced it has successfully conducted 4,931 free vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) surgeries at its specialized treatment centre in Jahun, Jigawa State, since the project’s inception in 2008. The milestone was disclosed by Dr. Fatima Aliyu, Medical Activity Manager of the MSF Jahun project, during a media tour of the facility organized by the Family Planning Media Forum, Jigawa State, with support from Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS). Dr. Aliyu revealed that 74 surgeries have already been…
By Ben Adaji, Jalingo A wave of grief has swept through Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, where over 20 people were brutally killed and thousands forced to flee their homes after suspected armed herders launched coordinated attacks on Munga Lelau and neighbouring communities on Friday. In what survivors describe as a “nightmare in broad daylight,” the attackers stormed into the villages on motorcycles, opening fire indiscriminately, razing homes, and leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. By the time security forces arrived from nearby Bandawa—another community recently hit by similar violence—more than 20 lifeless bodies had been…
By Fred Itua History often favours those who understand that leadership is not merely about occupying space but about navigating time. In the grand arc of statecraft, it is not the noise that endures—it is the impact. Power, if not used to negotiate the well-being of the people, is nothing more than a fleeting privilege. Leadership, therefore, must go beyond symbolism; it must pursue substance. It is within this philosophical frame that one must appreciate Governor Monday Okpebholo’s consistent diplomatic engagements with the Federal Government in Abuja. These visits are not acts of self-promotion but expressions of a deeper strategy—one…
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Fred Itua, has received a prestigious award for Digitalization, presented by Pinnacle Builder Homes and Properties in Benin City. The award recognizes Mr. Itua’s exceptional contributions to modern media practices, particularly in deploying digital platforms to amplify the activities and achievements of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration. Speaking at the event, the CEO of Pinnacle Builder Homes and Properties, Mr. Samson Areladia, praised Mr. Itua’s dedication, professionalism, and years of experience in the media industry. He noted that the award was well-deserved and reflective of Mr. Itua’s consistent effort in…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the temporary shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) for scheduled maintenance beginning Saturday, May 24, 2025. According to a statement from NNPC Ltd’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, the shutdown is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at enhancing the refinery’s efficiency and long-term performance. “We are working closely with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the process is carried out smoothly and transparently,” Soneye said. He added that regular updates would be provided…
***Says President has demonstrated he listens to the people Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and former Senate Leader, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing several Northerners into key positions across federal parastatals, describing the move as a demonstration of the President’s responsiveness and commitment to inclusive governance. In appointments announced on Friday, no fewer than 12 individuals from Northern Nigeria were named to strategic national roles. The list includes: Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) – Managing Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) Hamza Ibrahim Baba (Kano) – Programme Manager, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) Abubakar Umar…
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Jigawa State Council, has officially unveiled a Veterans Committee aimed at bridging generations of journalists through mentorship, collaboration, and institutional memory. The committee will be chaired by Comrade Mati Ali, a distinguished journalist and media strategist with nearly 40 years of experience. Comrade Ali currently serves as the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Honourable Minister of Defence. He is also the former Managing Director of Radio Jigawa and has served the NUJ in various capacities, including as Chairman of the Jigawa State Council and a National Trustee. In a statement issued…