Opinion
Minting Xenophobia: What We Can Learn From The AP’s NFT Error
On February 24, 2022, the same day Putin began a brutal invasion of Ukraine, the Associated Press tweeted a short video by photographer Felipe Dana that resembled Sestini’s image. The video footage was a short clip of migrants on an overcrowded boat on their way to Spain in hope of asylum. The AP was set to “drop” the clip as an NFT for purchase the following day on their new NFT marketplace. Following an incredible amount of vocal outcry, the AP deleted the tweet and apologized.
Aside from the gratuitous commodification of human pain using the crypto market, the image perpetuates the negative depiction of refugees through the mediation of migration. This ongoing debate about how we see the migrant in media can be considered again through the AP’s mistake.
In her book, Mediating Migration, Radha Hegde writes that the immigrant body is “disciplined, racialized, and surveilled,” and the body is often all the immigrant has when they “navigate spaces of uncertainty and risk.” The migrant or refugee is not often seen as a human person in media representations, but rather as a state of temporary being, one who is seen in transit, but rarely in a settled destination.
Hegde further explains that in our mediated present, not only do migrants have to worry about technologies of surveillance, but also the overt “patriotism of citizens” who enact exclusionary tactics.
While some countries are leaning into authoritarian leadership, immigrants are often framed as a problem or a boogeyman. The reduction of the person to a “crowded boat” does not help the story of the individual struggling for safety. In fact, Felipe Dana’s image does more to confirm the stereotype of an invading group of outsiders.
In a lengthy analysis of Sestini’s photograph, authors Paul Mihailidis, Liat Racin and Eric Gordon wrote Digital Crossroads: Civic Media and Migration in 2016. Their extensive report analyzed the concept of the Mare Nostrum (our sea) operation, the refugee crisis, and othering through media. The report also provided tools to combat xenophobia.
Mihailidis, Racin, and Gordon argue that the current flows of population are unique in global migration history due to the combination of economic migration and those fleeing war and our ability to capture images and share them online. The authors found that the media continues to represent these migration flows (from either on foot or over water) from a macro standpoint, seeing the mass of people rather than the human individual. The paper calls for an immediate adaptive strategy to combat the perpetuation of mediated xenophobia.
Distinct from Sestini’s photograph, the recent AP NFT project not only perpetuates the depiction of migrants and their plight, but also attempts to reward it through profit. As an aside, the AP also used Discord to enable people to ask questions, and it did not go well.
The war in Ukraine has displaced millions of citizens and turned them into refugees. This has correctly created some consternation among human rights activists who see the different ways we use media to represent the migration crisis.
As Dr. Ayo Sogunro tweeted in response to the absorption of the Ukrainian migrants, “Europe never had a migrant crisis. It has a racism crisis.”
In these tumultuous times, the AP should have known better than to attempt this project. The image, fortunately, was never minted, and an AP spokesperson said the video was noted to be “a poor choice of imagery for an NFT” — quite an understatement.
Migration will be part of the rest of our lives due to the unfortunate reality of oncoming climate disasters, economic shifts, unjust wars, and population changes. We have the opportunity to learn from this and recognize individual people as we are attempting to do in the Ukraine crisis. This should be extended to those on boats crossing treacherous seas or people walking thousands of miles.
And most importantly, we should engage in conversation about the work of journalism in terms of rights, commodification, and storage on the blockchain. To reiterate what Mihailidis, Racin, and Gordon propose, we need to ask journalists and reporters to tell a “living story” about the people on the boat and recognize their present reality. Let’s hope we can learn from this error and help people in need.
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.