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British High Commission holds capacity building workshop for journalists

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The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Jonny Baxter, says the UK government remains committed to supporting the Nigeria media in dispensing its duties.

Baxter said this on Wednesday at a ‘Media Freedom and Capacity Workshop for Journalists’, organised by the British High Commission in Abuja.

The workshop which had no fewer than 30 journalists from across the country and facilitated by the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, held at Stratton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja.

He said that the workshop was facilitated due to the importance of the media in the dissemination of information to the public.

“The importance of the media cannot be overemphasised, so, the UK government remains committed in supporting them because they play key roles in the reshaping of the country.

“We remain committed in strengthening the strong ties with the country, so, this workshop is one of the various ways of ensuring that we maintain the ties between both countries.

“The workshop would help in shedding more light on the importance of media freedom and focus on different ways in strengthening journalism across the country.

“The training and workshop would focus on various key areas that would help in empowering and strengthening every journalist that participates in it so we are glad that we can help in our own way,” he said.

Prof. Silk Ogbu of the School of Media and Communications, Pan Altantic University, noted that the workshop would explore media freedom and freedom of expression in Nigeria.

Ogbu, who was one of the facilitators added that the workshop would also help broaden the knowledge of the participants. (NAN)

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Sokoto APC Gives Governor Aliyu’s Scorecard, Calls Him A Worthy Ambassador 

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By ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Sokoto State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Monday gave a scorecard of governor Ahmed Aliyu’s performance thus far.

Addressing newsmen at the party’s Secretariat, the state chairman of APC, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida said they have no regrets marketing the governor as his achievements have vindicated Senator Wamakko and the APC in Sokoto

“”Many people voted for Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto with the benefit of the doubt. Many others voted him based on the credentials of his political mentor and the father of Sokoto politics, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sarkin Yamman Sokoto, Sarkin Yakin Sokoto””, the APC chairman noted.

The chairman however added that, he feels proud that Sokoto’s governor has turned out to be an excellent choice who has proven all critics wrong.

While reeling out the governor’s achievements in the areas of road constructions, health, economy, water supply, education, security, housing, human capital development and empowerment as well as electricity, the state APC chairman said, the governor Ahmed Aliyu’s led administration has performed better in less than two year compared to the entire 8 years of his predecessor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Giving a roll down of the numerous completed and ongoing road as well as township beautification projects executed by governor Ahmed Aliyu, the state APC chairman added that, while his predecessor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal sold off all government houses and can not account for the money, governor Ahmed Aliyu in less than two years is
building a total of 1136 houses.

“This is made up of 500 at Gidan Salanke, 500 at Wajake, Wamakko Local Government and the 136 housing units purchased from the Federal Housing Authority”‘”.

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Talking on security,  Isa Sadiq Achida admitted that despite  challenges affecting some local government areas, particularly in the Eastern Senatorial District, the governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration is taken decisive steps to combat banditry and enhance public safety.

Continuing, Sadiq Achida mentioned some of the efforts in that regards to include, “‘Strengthening Security Operations with the procurement and distribution of over 140 patrol vehicles to security agencies to boost their mobility and response capabilities, establishment and equipping of the Community Guards Corps with essential operational tools and logistics to strengthen local security networks.

“”Also on the security challanges, the governor is taken proactive measures to help mitigate the effect of spillover external threats from neighboring states and the Republic of Niger” The APC chairman said.

 

 

 

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Rivers Govt tells NBA to refund N300m confab hosting rights

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The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.

Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable.

The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.

“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”

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Tinubu urged to ignore calls for state of emergency in Zamfara

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An interest group, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), has urged President Bola Tinubu and lovers of democracy to ignore calls for declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara.

The PAPSD Executive Director, Dr Sani Shinkafi, made the call in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shinkafi was also the Patron of Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in 2023.

He described the call by some groups which he referred as faceless as an agenda to distract Gov. Dauda Lawal from his Rescue Mission and destabilise the state.

The executive director said that the ‘reactionary forces’, blinded by parochial interests, had demonstrated ignorance of Nigerian constitution on the provisions for declaration of state of emergency in a state.

According to him, Zamfara does not fall in any of the constitutional provisions for removing the governor or declaring a state of emergency.

He urged politicians in the state to play by the rules, uphold democratic values, ideals and ethics, and eschew politics of bitterness capable of impeding the gains of Nigeria’s hard earned democracy.

Shinkafi noted that the army and other security agencies, supported by the governor, had fought armed banditry and had significantly improved security, public safety and order in Zamfara.

He noted that the improved security had paved the way for vigorous economic activities, social services and infrastructural development, all combined to provide dividends of democracy to citizens.

“This also includes the payment of ₦70,000 national minimum wage to civil servants and a promise to address the grey areas in the implementation of the national minimum wage to senior civil servants,’’ he said.

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The executive director said if the intention of the groups and their sponsors was to distract the governor, they had failed woefully.

He urged all lovers of good governance in Zamfara to set aside petty politics and join hands with Lawal to transform the state and make it great again.

“The interest of the state supersedes individuals’ political ambitions.

“It is not yet time for partisan politics for the 2027 general elections.

“Everybody should calm down and contribute to building a better Zamfara State. It is time for patriotism, not antagonism,” he said. (NAN)

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