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Samoa agreement: FG files complaint against Daily Trust, Ombudsman writes newspaper
Samoa agreement: FG files complaint against Daily Trust, Ombudsman writes newspaper
The federal government has dragged Daily Trust Newspapers before the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the Ombudsman, over its story on the Samoa agreement.
A statement by NMCC on Sunday acknowledged receipt of the federal government’s complaint and added that investigation into the matter had commenced.
The statement was signed by Emeka Izeze and Feyi Smith, chairman and interim secretary of NMCC, respectively.
It said that the federal government’s complaint, dated July 8, was signed by Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, permanent secretary of the federal ministry of information and national orientation, on behalf of the minister, Mohammed Idris.
The government, according to the statement, alleged that on July 4, 2024, Daily Trust newspaper published an article “containing false and misleading information that severely threatens national security”.
The statement said that in the complaint, the government alleged that “on July 4, 2024, Daily Trust newspaper published on its front page, a news item titled ‘LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 Billion Samoa Deal”.
“In the report, it said that the government had endorsed a European Union (EU) partnership agreement (referred to as the “Samoa Agreement”), with member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).
It said that the agreement was signed “despite some conditional clauses that compel benefiting nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community for recognition”.
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The government, according to the statement, described the report by Daily Trust newspaper as “false and misleading”.
It quoted the government as saying that, as a result of the alleged false report, “individuals and government officials have been subjected to hate speech, threats, intimidation, and cyberbullying across social media”.
According to the statement, the government is, therefore, asking the NMCC to intervene in the matter and, among other things, carry out a thorough investigation of the alleged misleading publication;
It also urged the Ombudsman to direct the newspaper’s management to publicly retract and correct the alleged false information, with equal prominence as the original article.
It also urged the NMCC to direct the management of Daily Trust newspaper to issue an unequivocal apology for “allegedly recklessly disseminating false information and implement stricter editorial guidelines to prevent a repeat of such alleged unwholesome report by any newspaper in the future”.
The NMCC said it had sent a formal acknowledgement letter, dated July 10, and signed by its interim secretary, Feyi Smith, to the ministry, informing it that the complaint was receiving the attention of the commission.
It said that the outcome would be duly communicated to the government.
“The management of Daily Trust will be contacted shortly for its response.
“As an independent media regulatory body, it is our duty to promote media adherence to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.
“We are also expected to ensure that the media operate in a free and unfettered environment,” the commission said.
It said that in accordance with the mandate and its established procedures, it had commenced an investigation into the government’s allegations.
“We assure the public that our inquiry will be thorough and impartial.
“We look forward to receiving the full cooperation of all parties involved and pledge to continue to ensure transparency throughout this process,” it said.
NMCC is an independent, multi-stakeholder co-regulatory body.
It was established by the Nigerian Press Organisations (NPO), made up of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
It works in collaboration with the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).
The NMCC is tasked with providing the public with an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press, resolving all complaints quickly, fairly and free of charge.
It is expected to do so, maintaining high standards of journalism practice, journalistic ethics and defending the freedom of the press and the rights of the people to know.
Samoa agreement: FG files complaint against Daily Trust, Ombudsman writes newspaper
News
NNPC has no right setting price of Dangote petrol – Falana
NNPC has no right setting price of Dangote petrol – Falana
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, do not have the power to fix the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, for the Dangote Refinery after deregulation.
Falana said the NNPCL action violated the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, which stipulated that the price of petrol must be determined by the market forces
In a statement on Tuesday, the legal luminary said it was an aberration for the NNPCL to peg the price of petrol produced and refined in Nigeria at 950 per litre.
“On September 5, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) stated that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity had been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) governed by unrestrained market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
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“The NNPCL was explaining the pump price of PMS imported into the country at the material time. Specifically, the Executive Vice President of Downstream NNPC Ltd Mr. Adedapo Segun, explained that Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd, stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by free market forces.
“But contrary to the well-publicised statement, the NNPCL has fixed the price of PMS produced by the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. The action of the NNPCL is a violent contravention of section 205 of the PIA, which stipulates that the prices of petroleum products shall be determined by market forces.
“Furthermore, since the petrol sold by Dangote is not imported into the country but produced at the Lekki Economic Free Trade Zone, the NNPCL cannot justify the sale of petrol at N950 per litre without freight cost, lightering cost, jetty depot fees, storage fees, foreign exchange costs, NPA charges: NIMASA charges, Customs duties etc,” he said.
Falana’s outburst followed the commencement of PMS lifting by the NNPCL from the Dangote Refinery.
You would recall that as soon as lifting commenced, NNPCL announced that the product would sell for N950 per litre in Lagos State and its environs, and above N1,000 per litre in states such as Borno.
Reacting, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on Monday, criticised NNPCL, saying it was not right for petrol lifted from the Dangote Refinery to cost higher than imported ones
NNPC has no right setting price of Dangote petrol – Falana
News
Coffee prices double in Nigeria after global supply disruptions
Coffee prices double in Nigeria after global supply disruptions
Nigeria is feeling the impact of the global coffee crisis as futures prices surge by over 30% due to severe supply disruptions caused by drought in Brazil, the world’s largest Arabica coffee producer.
In Nigeria, coffee prices have doubled in 2024, with popular brands like Nescafe and TopCafe experiencing significant hikes.
For instance, “Nescafe 3 in 1” spiked to N34,000 per carton in August, up from N28,000 in May, and a steep rise from N18,000 last year.
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The rainfall shortage in Brazil, which began in April, has led to a sharp decline in coffee production, sparking a global rush to secure supplies.
This has driven up coffee futures, with U.S. Coffee Futures and Arabica Futures both soaring by more than 30% in 2024, impacting markets worldwide, including Nigeria.
Coffee prices double in Nigeria after global supply disruptions
News
UN donates $6m to support Borno flood victims
UN donates $6m to support Borno flood victims
The United Nations has announced the donation of a $6 million fund in support of the Maiduguri flood victims in Borno State.
In a statement on Tuesday, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, said a joint mission comprising UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), alongside the Nigeria Red Cross Society, visited the main city of Maiduguri over the weekend.
According to Fall, the team met with people who had been impacted, many of them had already displaced multiple times by conflict and insecurity in the area.
The flood was caused by an overflow in the Alau Dam located just over 10 miles to the south of Maiduguri.
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“We and our partners are providing them with hot meals, we are facilitating air drops of food in hard-to-reach areas cut off by flood waters, and we are also trucking in water.
“We are also providing water and sanitation hygiene services and water purification tablets to stem disease outbreaks.
“This is in addition to supplying hygiene and dignity kits to women and girls, as well as emergency health and shelter services.”
He added that the staff of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs were also working closely with donors to secure additional funding.
UN donates $6m to support Borno flood victims
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