Journalists: MRA releases report on rampant attacks by government officials - ITREALMS

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The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has released a report titled “When Protectors Become Predators: The State Against Freedom of Expression in Nigeria”, documenting a disturbing pattern of attacks, intimidation, and harassment targeted at journalists and other media workers by security, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies, which are the very institutions that are supposed to protect them, reports ITREALMS.

The 129-page report, issued in commemoration of this year’s International Day to End Impunity (IDEI) for Crimes Against Journalists, highlights how those entrusted with maintaining law and order as well as protecting citizens, including journalists, have instead become instruments of repression, targeting journalists and other media workers for doing their legitimate work of informing the public and holding power to account.

MRA invites entries for Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards 2026 - ITREALMS

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has announced the formal opening of its Call for Entries for the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Freedom of Information Awards 2026, designed to recognize and celebrate journalistic excellence in promoting transparency and accountability through the effective use of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.

Named in honour of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who signed the FOI Act into Law on May 28, 2011, the first category of the awards will celebrate a journalist who has made the highest number of information requests under the Act, while the second category will honour a journalist who has made the most outstanding contributions in promoting the Act since its enactment by raising awareness among citizens, government officials and the media about it, including its provisions, how to use it, its benefits, and the rights it grants as well as advocating for its effective implementation.

MRA demands stronger Whistleblower protections in Nigeria - ITREALMS

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The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urgently called on the Nigerian Federal Government to implement robust legal and institutional safeguards for whistleblowers, reports ITREALMS.

The MRA emphasized that these courageous individuals are vital for exposing corruption, human rights abuses, and other wrongdoings, serving as a cornerstone of transparency, accountability, and good governance.

MRA blasts SNM for calling on Police, security agencies to restrict FOI Act - ITREALMS

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned in strong terms a recent statement by a group of individuals describing themselves as Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) urging the Police and other security agencies to "checkmate" the activities of non-state actors allegedly blackmailing and extorting government officials using the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

The SNM, in a statement jointly signed by Rev Solomon Semaka and Dr Richard Oduma, who described themselves as the Task Force on Illegal CSOs co-conveners, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the intelligence services to strengthen their efforts and beam their searchlight on the activities of criminal syndicates which specialised in blackmailing and extorting unsuspecting government officials using the FOI Act.

Right to Information: MRA condemns citizens harassment by DSS - ITREALMS

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The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the harassment of the leader of a citizens group by the Department of State Services (DSS) for exercising their fundamental right to request information from the government under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, describing the act of intimidation as unlawful and aimed at undermining the very principles of transparency and accountability that the Act is designed to uphold.

The DSS in Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State is reported to have called one of the conveners of Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, Mr. Jamiu Olayinka, on telephone in the morning of September 12, 2024 and asked him to report at the DSS office in Ibeju-Lekki at 10am that same day.

MRA demands govt investigates all attacks against Journalists, punish perpetrators - ITREALMS

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has demanded from the governments at all levels to fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety of journalists by investigating all attacks against media practitioners as well as prosecuting and punishing the perpetrators of such attacks.

Also, MRA said this would send a strong signal to those who attack journalists that they can no longer do so with impunity while also giving the media the confidence to carry out their functions without fear.