US–Nigeria civil society coalition to address humanitarian, religious freedom crisis - ITREALMS

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The Save Nigeria Group USA, in partnership with the Convened US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, has issued an urgent invite for two landmark events in Washington, D.C. reports ITREALMS.

These gatherings are designed to highlight the worsening humanitarian crisis and the erosion of religious freedom within Nigeria, issues that have reached a critical level of global concern.

Press freedom under siege: NGE slams NBC over ‘dangerous’ threats to sanction broadcasters - ITREALMS Online

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The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has raised a red flag over the latest regulatory maneuver by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), describing the Commission’s recent threat to sanction broadcast presenters as a "direct assault" on the foundations of democracy and media independence, reports ITREALMS.

In a strongly worded press release issued on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the NGE warned that the NBC’s move to penalize journalists for alleged "bullying" of guests or presenting opinions as facts is a standard prerequisite for state-sponsored censorship.

Why Governor Fintiri holds key to Sunday Jackson’s freedom y Remmy Nweke, WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

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In 'Why Governor Fintiri holds the key to Sunday Jackson’s Freedom,' WeekendDigits@ITREALMS by REMMY NWEKE unpacks the powerful intersection of justice, mercy, and political will, exploring how one governor’s decision could redefine redemption, governance, and humanity across Adamawa State and beyond.

The Mercy Divide:
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s list of pardons and commuted sentences was released in October 2025, it was hailed as a bold gesture of compassion and justice reform. More than 150 convicts from the infamous to the forgotten, regained their freedom or saw their sentences reduced. 

Yet, amid the applause, one name remained conspicuously absent: Sunday Jackson, a 30-year-old farmer from Adamawa State, still languishing on death row.

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.

INEC’s ₦1.5bn demand on FOI: What Is digital alternative? Asks Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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INEC’s ₦1.5 billion charge for a Freedom of Information (FOI) request raises fresh concerns about transparency and digital readiness. REMMY NWEKE in this edition of Telecoms Clinic @ITREALMS analyses and asks for digital alternatives to paper-based bureaucracy in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent demand of ₦1.5 billion as the cost of granting a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the National Register of Voters and the list of polling units has sparked widespread debate about transparency, access, and digital accountability in Nigeria.

While many have condemned the figure as excessive, the discussion is more nuanced than it appears. Producing a certified true copy (CTC) of a national database involves more than simple photocopying. 

Comparative guide cost of administering Freedom of Information Act: A response to INEC’s clarification by President Aigbokhan - ITREALMS

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Nigeria has a voting population of 93. 4 milliion and these records are stored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in both hard and digital formats.

A recent request by Messrs. VC Ottaokpukpu & Associates to INEC has generated significant public debate. The law firm requested access to the complete national voters’ register and the list of existing polling units in all electoral wards across Nigeria.

Konga Freedom Sale: Celebrating Nigeria's independence with mega deals - ITREALMS

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Konga, Nigeria's leading composite e-commerce giant, has officially launched its highly anticipated Freedom Sale, coinciding with the nation's 65th Independence Anniversary. 

The two-week promotional campaign, which commenced on October 1st, offers shoppers across the country a unique opportunity to enjoy rock-bottom prices and mega deals on genuine products.

Press Freedom Under Siege: NGE slams Niger State Governor over Badeggi Radio closure - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a brazen attack on press freedom, condemning the abrupt closure of Badeggi Radio by Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, reports ITREALMS.

In a strongly-worded press statement available to ITREALMS on Sunday night, the NGE expressed deep concern over the governor's actions, which they say undermine the fundamental principles of democracy and the role of the media in holding those in power accountable.

NaijaAgroNet: Nigerian farmer on death row for defending himself - ITREALMS

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A shocking case has sparked widespread outrage in Nigeria, with many calling for justice and mercy, reports ITREALMS.

Sunday Jackson, a farmer, has been on death row since 2015 after being attacked by a herdsman on his farm in Adamawa State.

Ugbede @70: Lack of political economy, hinders press freedom reforms says Oloja - ITREALMS

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A renowned journalist and former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Martins Oloja, has called for a total media reform in Nigeria, describing lack of political economy of press freedom as the main missing link bedeviling ethical journalism in 21st century, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the median edition of the Times Journalism Alumni Association (TJAA) symposium in commemoration of the 70th birthday of the former director, Times Journalism Institute (TJI), Mr. Ndubuisi Ugbede at the Conference Hall of the Ladi Lawal House, Lagos State Council Secretariat of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Alausa-Ikeja on Thursday, Oloja, who dwelt on "Ethical Journalism in 21st Century: The Missing Links" noted lack of political economy of press freedom as main missing link frustrating ethical journalism.

State of Media Freedom Report declares security agencies worst enemies of Nigerian Media - ITREALMS

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The security agencies comprising the police, military and intelligence services, have been defined as consistently the worst enemies of the media in Nigeria in recent years and were responsible for the highest number of attacks against journalists in 2024, reports ITREALMS.

According to the latest annual state of media freedom report for the year released on on Tuesday by Media Rights Agenda (MRA).

EFCC’s Urban Radio arrest raises press freedom, procedural integrity concerns by Tony Onyima - ITREALMS

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The press statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today regarding the arrest of Favour Ekoh at Urban Radio, 94.5 FM, Enugu, raises concerns about procedural propriety, press freedom, and the balance between law enforcement and media independence.

At the core of this issue is the controversial method employed by the EFCC in pursuing Ekoh, a radio presenter accused of involvement in a Ponzi scheme. The EFCC asserts it had to conduct a “sting operation” at the station, implying urgency to prevent Ekoh from escaping. However, entering a media house to arrest a presenter during a live broadcast can be seen as an infringement on press freedom. Even if legal, such an approach may set a dangerous precedent by subjecting journalists and broadcasters to fear of interruption or abduction in their duties, undermining the Fourth Estate’s vital role in society. The agency could have waited for Ekoh to finish her presentation and arrested her as she exited the station.

Ezigbo, PG Abatete escapes from kidnappers, regains freedom - ITREALMS

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Barely 24 hours after he was abducted by unknown gunmen, the President-General of Abatete community in Anambra State, High Chief Ezebinobi Chimame Ezigbo, has regained his freedom, after escaping from the kidnappers den, reports ITREALMS.

Confirming this development in a viral amateur video, Ezigbo in the company of the chairman of the vigilante in Abatete, said he escaped and called the community security chief to find him at a certain location, but the man came alone.

25 years after Abacha's death sentence: A Journey of resilience, gratitude says Bello Fadile - ITREALMS

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As I sit down to pen these words, my mind drifts back to a momentous day etched in the annals of my personal history – March 4, 1999. It was on this day, 25 years ago, that I emerged from the shadows of incarceration into the warm embrace of freedom. 

The memory of that day remains vivid in my mind, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unwavering power of faith.

WPFD'23: IPI Nigeria sets agenda for Tinubu on journalists’ safety, media freedom - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian National Committee of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) has asked the incoming federal government to be led by the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to commit to creating a better operating environment for journalists and media organisations, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement by the IPI Nigeria president, Musikilu Mojeed and chair, IPI Nigeria Advocacy Committee, Tobi Soniyi, 
on  commemoration of the 2023 World Press Freedom Day, available to ITREALMS, noted that in the past few years, cases of media and journalists’ harassment have been rampant.

UN to host World Press Freedom Day'23 - ITREALMS

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The 2023 edition of the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference will be hosted at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York on 2 May, reports ITREALMS.

This, ITREALMS gathered, is a special anniversary edition of the conference as it marks the 30th anniversary since the proclamation of World Press Freedom Day by the UN General Assembly at its 48th session in 1993.

IPC urges professionals, tech users to safeguard press freedom - ITREALMS

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The Lagos-based International Press Centre (IPC) has urged the global community, especially professionals and technology users on the need to safeguard the press freedom, reports ITREALMS.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade made this call on the occasion of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) and enjoined the Nigerian government to respect its commitment and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights.

FG, IPI disagree over 2021 World Press Freedom Index - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government (FG) and the International Press Institute (IPI) are in disagreement over the 2021 annual World Press Freedom Index, reports ITREALMS.

FG in its character, rejected that Nigeria as a country not conducive to the practice of journalism, saying Nigerian press remains among the most vibrant and freest in the world.

US alarmed over deteriorating religious freedom, security in Nigeria - ITREALMS

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The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has been alarmed over deteriorating religious freedom conditions and security in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

Reacting to the seventh anniversary of Boko Haram’s abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, the USCIRF stated that the security situation remains dire.

Why FG rejects US religious freedom violation tag by MoIC - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Federal Government (FG) has rejected the US designation of Nigeria as a country that engages in or tolerates severe violations of religious freedom, saying the iniquitous tag stems from an orchestrated narrative that has long been discredited, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister of Information and Culture (MoIC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Sunday in Abuja, that the good people of Nigeria enjoy unfettered freedom to practice their religion, and blamed failed politicians and disgruntled elements - some of them supposedly-respected leaders - for latching on to religion as their trump card, especially in the run up to the last general elections, to oust the Buhari administration.

He said it is unfortunate that the United States (US) fell for the antics of the discontented and the unpatriotic few, who will not hesitate to hang Nigeria out to dry on the altar of their inordinate ambition and their sheer animosity towards the administration.

The Minister said the Nigerian government is acutely aware of how the political opposition, in particular, had spared no resources in deriving political capital from the various security challenges in the country

''The deliberate effort to give religious coloration to the farmers-herders clashes and the Boko Haram insurgency, in particular, has undoubtedly helped to mislead the US into concluding that the government is doing little or nothing to guarantee religious freedom in the country.

''But, as we have always said, the farmers-herders clashes have nothing to do with religion but everything to do with environmental and socio-economic realities. The religious tag given to the clashes has no basis in fact, but is very convenient for those who will very easily give the dog a bad name just to hang it. On its part, the Boko Haram terrorists are extreme fanatics who do not subscribe to the tenets of any religion, in spite of their pretense to Islamic adherence,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the good news is that the government has succeeded in curbing the farmers-herders clashes through the implementation of proactive and multi-dimensional strategy, which is yielding remarkable results, just as it has largely defeated the BokoHaram insurgency.

On the El-Zakzaky issue, which was referred to in the report by the US government, he described it is purely a criminal matter, which is being handled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Minister said while the government welcomes constructive criticism from any quarter, it rejects any attempt to sow the seed of mistrust among the various religious groups in the country.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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