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We won’t gag press but media should be regulated – Gbajabiamila

Published

5 years ago

July 13, 2021

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that he will not be part of any bill that seeks to gag the press.
He, however, said that the media should be regulated, stressing that no institution including the press would be allowed to operate unchecked.
He stated this on Monday during the annual dinner and award of excellence held under the theme ‘Reorganising Good Governance and Legislative Excellence in the Face of Adversity’.
The move by the lower chamber to amend the laws establishing the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) and Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has attracted a lot of criticisms from opinion leaders, journalists and other members of the public.
Gbajabiamila said, “I will not be part of any bill that will seek to gag the press. No bill will come to the floor of the House that seeks to gag the press, because the press as it is supposed to be, is supposed to be the voice of the people.”
According to the speaker, there is press freedom and freedom of expression and there will always be, adding however that nowhere in the world where freedom of expression is absolute.
He said freedom of expression is limited to the extent that it does not affect another person’s freedom.
He pointed out that freedom of expression is not absolute, adding it was made absolutely clear in the constitution.
The Speaker said Section 45 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression but added that the government could limit that freedom for the sake of health and security, which he said was written in black and white.
He said, “Once, I will never allow the gagging of the press. I worry where at every turn when the National Assembly tries to promulgate the law with the best of intentions and everybody descends on the National Assembly.
“Using this as a sample, this Press Council Bill. I called the proponent of the bill, what is going on, what have you done and he tried to break it down. I haven’t read the bill personally myself but I will read it in the next couple of days in detail. I just have a general idea of the context.
“He told me he had a meeting with all the stakeholders. I wasn’t present at the meeting. Because I said to him, I hope you are meeting with these guys, whatever provision they have problem with, whatever provision that is inimical to the development of the press or the growth of the press, remove it or tweak it in such a way that everybody will be happy.”
Gbajabiamila said the fact that no institution wanted to be regulated gave him concern.
“We are getting to a point in this country, nobody wants to be regulated; the NGOs don’t want to be regulated; the religious bodies don’t want to be regulated; social media doesn’t want to be regulated; professors of universities go on strike because they don’t want to be on the same payment platform as everybody else,” he said.
The speaker wondered what the function of government would be if not to regulate for good government.
He added: “Regulations are a key component or essential component of good governance. We cannot just let people or any institution run amok. The executive is regulated, the judiciary to a large extent is regulated, the legislature is regulated. Just name it. Institutions are meant to be regulated.
“There is no one institution that can be above the law, especially an institution that is meant to be the fourth estate of the realm whose utterances or writings can make it break even a government.”
The speaker said as long the provisions in the bill would guarantee the independence of the press, it was non-negotiable.

Related Topics:Featured Femi Gbajabiamila press freedom

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Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Published

12 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Tehran, March 11, 2026 – Iran has officially announced that it will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing security concerns and strained relations with the United States.

The announcement came from Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Sports Minister, who said the current circumstances make it impossible for the national team to compete. “Given that this corrupt government has murdered our leader, there are no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali stated. “Two wars have been imposed on us in the past eight or nine months, and several thousand of our citizens have been killed. Therefore, we have no chance of participating in this way.”

Iran had qualified for the tournament, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with group stage matches set in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle. The Iranian team was drawn into Group G, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran would have been welcomed to compete, and U.S. authorities confirmed the team would have been allowed entry. However, Iran’s leadership rejected participation, citing ongoing conflict and security concerns.

The withdrawal leaves FIFA with the task of determining how to fill Iran’s spot in the tournament and adjusting the group stage schedule accordingly. Officials are expected to make an announcement in the coming days.

This marks the first time Iran has voluntarily withdrawn from a World Cup after qualifying, highlighting the growing tensions in the region amid recent military and political escalations.

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

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FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

Published

15 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

Some Nigerians have been escorted out of Iran by officials of the Federal Government through the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran as part of efforts to ensure their safety amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

This was confirmed by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, who disclosed that Nigerian embassy officials are currently coordinating the movement of citizens willing to leave the country.

Dabiri-Erewa explained that the evacuees are being escorted from various locations in Iran to the border with Armenia, where they will await further arrangements for their return to Nigeria.

According to her, the evacuation became necessary following the escalating security situation in the region, which has raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals, including Nigerians residing in Iran.

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

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Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

Published

1 day ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to immediately deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide, a bold move aimed at easing the burden of rising global fuel prices and promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cheaper, cleaner alternative to petrol.

The directive was issued during a closed-door meeting between the president and PiCNG Executive Chairman Ismaeel Ahmed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ahmed disclosed that the president requested updates on the initiative’s progress, particularly regarding measures to cushion Nigerians from the impact of fuel price volatility driven by tensions in the Middle East.

“The president is concerned about the effect of global petroleum price spikes on Nigerians. He has given a direct mandate to immediately deploy about 100,000 CNG conversion kits,” Ahmed said. The kits will allow vehicle owners, including cars and tricycles, to convert petrol engines to run on compressed natural gas, offering an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative.