Post-COVID-19: How Nigerian businesses, govt can re-strategize says Adedayo Amzat - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Group Managing Director of Zedcrest, Adedayo Amzat has advised corporate organizations to rethink their business model and adopt technologies that would keep the green-light on – should another pandemic of COVID-19 scale ever happen again, reports ITREALMS. 

In an Instagram Live Chat with the Editor of TechEconomy.ng, Peter Oluka on the theme; “Implications of COVID-19 on Nigerian Economy: Way Forward for Businesses”, Amzat stated that the battle against COVID-19 is one that leaders today must win if we are to find an economically and socially viable path to the next normal.

According to him, “This is the worse than the worst case scenario that businesses plan for”; noting that the last time the world experienced a pandemic like this was 1918 (the Spanish flu).

“No company or individual could have foreseen and made adequate preparations to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies and businesses. Businesses are shutting down in their numbers because this crisis is unprecedented. In order to stay alive, businesses will require a shift from a brick and mortar mind set to exploring digital channels to reach their consumers. What we have now are opportunistic winners. Digital business are taking over brick and mortar businesses”, he said.

He stated that very few insurance packages have pandemics in their contracts which unfortunately means that many businesses will struggle after the pandemic.

The financial expert also urged the government restructure its finances and to give more support to agriculture, mining and other sectors that can create jobs to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on the Nigerian economy.

“Before now, the government have been trying to move the economy from an export driven economy to a consumption driven one. There should be more local aggregate demand to drive the economy. Government has heavily invested in supporting the agricultural sector. With lessons that we have learnt during this COVID-19 crisis, it makes sense to deepen internal competences across different sectors.

“Agriculture has the capacity to employ a lot more people. Our first problem in Nigeria is unemployment, if we can develop our agriculture value chain, a lot more people will be employed. Almost 100 million Nigerians live in abject poverty, but remember, poverty isn’t just the lack of money, and it is also lack of access to information that can lift you out of that poverty. Agriculture can increase aggregate demand and we can generate more tax revenues, which can make our GDP more liquid. We have a GDP of $360 billion, but we don’t make up to $20 billion in tax revenue. We can make our GDP more liquid by ensuring that people get to work”, he explained.

Amzat opined that the government also needs to increase funding and encourage more research in the health sector.

“There was a video by Bill Gates that he did after the Ebola crisis, everything he said is happening right now. There is this theory that anything that can go bad will one day go bad. We have to have a plan for every possible situation. We need to create our health sector response and model it after the military. The military is funded even when there is no war, it’s like an insurance. Every year there is one health crisis or the other so why do we not have the same response for the military? What if HIV comes back what are we going to do? We have to have reserve health doctors that can be called upon for periods when there are health crisis that can overwhelm the health sector”, he urged.

The Zedcrest Group boss concluded that this is the best time to reduce the cost of governance by slashing the prodigious salaries and allowances of political officers; needless tours and other ostentatious expenses.

For now, Zedcrest Group has since activated its business continuity plan which amongst other elements include a work from home arrangement for staff. The Group’s consumer finance outfit, Zedvance Finance Limited remains one of the lending firms that are still active at this time through their digital channels.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Facebook partners CNN on Ramadan = ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Facebook is the exclusive partner for a new series across CNN TV and digital platforms about maintaining community and connection during Ramadan, reports ITREALMS.

The 10-part series, Together Apart at Ramadan, will highlight how a spirit of togetherness can maintained virtually. Through a mixture of English and Arabic language content, Together Apart at Ramadan will showcase the continued connection between families, friends and communities during Ramadan, despite the current situation regarding Covid-19, and demonstrate creative ways to keep traditions alive and inspire hope. 

In collaboration with CNN International Commercial (CNNIC), Facebook will be the exclusive brand partner across all platforms – CNN International TV and digital, CNN Arabic, and CNN International and CNN Arabic’s Facebook pages.

Launching on 26th April, the first video will explore how charity is a core value of the Islamic faith, but due to the coronavirus pandemic philanthropy is taking on a new meaning during this year's holy month. 

As Muslims around the world prepare for a radically different Ramadan, the people who support those less fortunate have been working hard to ensure that the holiday spirit stays intact. CNN highlights those who are not letting Covid-19 hinder their charitable work but are instead giving the gift of hope.

“Staying in touch and virtual communications have never felt more important, making this partnership a natural fit for a platform such as Facebook that connects us with friends and family during this time. 

"Our aspiration is for this series to inspire our global audiences on how to keep in touch, share the meaning of and observe Ramadan together despite the current restrictions in place all over the world,” Cathy Ibal, SVP, CNNIC.

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FirstBank mourns losses staff @ Kano Main branch - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Folake Ani-Mumuney has disclosed that the bank lost a staff by name, Abdullahi Lawal, who until his death worked at the Kano Main branch, reports ITREALMS.

She also said that their thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time as we do all that is necessary to support them. We ask that all necessary courtesies be extended to the family so they can grieve privately.

As a responsible corporate organization, FirstBank has been at the fore-front of the concerted efforts against the coronavirus pandemic alongside others.

We have robust protocols in place including practicing social distancing, frequently disinfecting our buildings and locations even whilst ensuring services are available through our alternative channels such as our ATMs and other digital platforms.

We have immediately therefore, shut down access to the premises as we disinfect the entire location and ask all staff and customers who may have been in contact with our late colleague to follow the NCDC guidelines and self-isolate. We will, as a matter of course, extend all possible support to staff and customers at this difficult time.

Our thoughts are with the family he left behind and indeed with the wider FirstBank family who mourn this loss deeply at this time.

We remain committed to protecting the health and safety of all staff, customers and host communities, as together the fight against coronavirus will be won.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Abuse of office: Impeach Umahi now says MRA, IPC - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

For attacks and placing bans on two jouranlists in Ebonyi State, the Governor, Mr. David Umahi has been declared unfit for public office, for allegedly misconducting himself, breaching his oath of office and the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and should be impeached, reports ITREALMS.

This was contained in the petition by the two Lagos-based media support organizations, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC) to Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) made available to ITREALMS.

They complained to the Chairman of the Bureau in pursuant to Paragraph 3(e) of Part One to the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the organizations contended that Mr. Umahi is unfit to continue to hold the office of Governor and requested the Bureau to investigate the matter and invoke the provisions of Paragraph 18(2)(a) and (b) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers contained in the Constitution to secure his removal from office and disqualification from holding any public office in Nigeria for the next 10 years.

Signed by MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo; and the Director of the IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the petition recounted the April 18 arrest of Mr. Chijioke Agwu, a reporter with the “Daily Sun” newspaper, on the instructions of the Governor. They also recalled the April 22 state-wide radio and television broadcast by the Governor in which he banned for life Mr. Agwu and Mr. Peter Okutu, a correspondent of the “Vanguard” newspaper, from entering the State Government House or any other Government facility in the State and from covering any government or official functions in the State.

The organizations attached an audio recording of the Governor’s broadcast to the petition, saying it contained inciting statements against the two journalists whom he banned, thereby putting their lives at risk, as well as threats to other journalists in the State whom he said would face dire consequences should they publish any negative story about his Government.

They noted that the actions and conduct of the Governor constitute an abuse of office in that he improperly and illegally used his position and power as Governor in an abusive way to oppress and violate the rights of citizens of Nigeria and put their lives at risk.

The organizations argued that the Governor has no authority under the Constitution or any other Law, whether as Governor or in any other capacity, to take the actions he took, particularly to impose a life ban on journalists or on any other citizen, who have not been charged with or convicted of any offence known to Law.

They accused the Governor of violating his Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance, contravening several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, putting Nigeria in a situation of having breached its international treaty obligations, particularly Article 66(2)(c) of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, where as a Member State of the Economic Community of West African States, Nigeria agreed to co-operate with other Member States in the area of information and undertook to “ensure respect for the rights of journalists.” They cited the provisions of the Constitution which the Governor violated to include Sections 13, 22, 35(1), 35(3) and 39(1).

The organizations contended that by his illegal and unconstitutional actions, the Governor has brought Nigeria to ridicule before the international community and is responsible for Nigeria’s violation of several international instruments. Among these are the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as various resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly on the safety of journalists and actions that should be taken on impunity for crimes against journalists.

According to them, by conducting himself in the manner he did, the Governor acted arbitrarily and in a manner prejudicial to the rights of other persons, particularly media practitioners engaged in the lawful pursuit of their professional duties as journalists. They contend that he thereby violated the provisions of Paragraph 9 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers contained in the 1999 Constitution, which states that “A public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy.”

Mr. Arogundade said: “We consider the actions of Governor Umahi a grave threat to and assault on our fundamental rights and freedoms as citizens, particularly in the light of his relentless attacks on journalists whose roles are more important now than ever before in the context of a global pandemic that poses an existential threat to humanity. We are motivated to take this step by our conviction that if we in Nigeria are to overcome the current and future challenges, the ability of journalists to be able to continue their professional and constitutionally mandated role of gathering, processing and disseminating information to the public should not be hindered”

His views were echoed by Mr. Ojo, who noted that the Governor had deliberately and unlawfully created a toxic environment for journalists and other media practitioners in Ebonyi State by continually making it impossible for them to carry out their professional duties, recklessly inciting citizens against them and putting their lives and welfare at risk.

Mr. Ojo said: “It is clear to us from the actions and utterances of Governor Umahi that he is lawless and has no regard for the Constitution, his Oath of Office, or common decency. He believes that he is a law unto himself and we have no doubt that such a person is not fit to continue to hold such high office in Nigeria. We therefore intend to use all legal and constitutional means available to us to pursue this matter to its logical conclusion.”

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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AWIEF extends application deadline to May - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Following the ongoing lockdown associated with developments and challenges around COVID-19, the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) has extended the deadline for applications for the LeadTech Incubation Programme to 20th May 2020, reports ITREALMS.

LeadTech, ITREALMS gathered is run in partnership with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) Morocco.

AWIEF founder and CEO, Irene Ochem said they fully appreciate the uncertainty, disruptions to business and need for flexibility during these difficult times, and hope that this will relieve some pressure for those who would like to submit an application.

"This global pandemic serves to highlight the importance of innovations in health, education, agriculture, finance and environment in Africa, and LeadTech Incubation offers a unique opportunity for women tech and digital startups to test, develop and grow their innovative solutions in a time calling for creative and collaborative solutions to global problems”.

She also said that selected participants will gain access to "tailored training and capacity-building, 3-week residency at UM6P in Morocco, Space and infrastructure (Living Labs, Digital Lab, Data Center, Prototyping Labs), World-class mentors and experts to work with successful applicants, 5-months virtual incubation, Venture showcase at AWIEF2020 (2 – 3 December, Johannesburg, South Africa) and Funding opportunities."

The LeadTech Incubation, she further said, is open to female digital startup leaders who are 18 years of age or older and residing in any African country.

"You have an innovative, scalable offer that integrates digital technologies into the process. You are passionate, committed, and have the capacity to engage fully in the programme," she said.

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor


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AfDB, SA Taxi enter $100m booster deal - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and SA Taxi Development Finance Proprietary Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SA Taxi Holdings Proprietary Limited (“SA Taxi”), have signed a $100 million loan agreement to support the firm’s growing strategy to empower taxi operators with limited access to finance from traditional financiers, reports ITREALMS.

The loan agreement, which carries an eight-year tenor and includes a six-month grace period, was signed on Monday, 16 March between the Bank’s Director of Infrastructure & Urban Development Amadou Oumarou, and Lorenzo Cardoso, Chief Financial Officer and Director of SA Taxi.

“The funding transaction entered into with the African Development Bank is instrumental to SA Taxi’s medium and long term strategy. The tenor and size of the transaction will contribute towards the continued success of SA Taxi to empower SMEs and create opportunities that ensure the sustainability of the minibus taxi industry,” Cardoso said. “We are proud to be an internationally recognised African business.”

The financial package, comprising a senior loan of $10 million and an associated facility of ZAR 1.4 billion (about $97 million), will provide a powerful boost to industrialization through improved urban mobility for working class South Africans.

SA Taxi is a vertically integrated minibus taxi platform utilizing specialist capabilities, enriched proprietary data and technology, to provide developmental finance, insurance and other services to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), thus enabling the sustainability of the minibus taxi industry.

Nenye Dom/Editor





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GOCOP: Why Buhari, IGP must ensure safety of journalists in Ebonyi State - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to ensure the safety of journalists in Ebonyi State, reports ITREALMS.

The Guild made the call on Thursday in reaction to the declaration by Governor David Umahi that he could no longer guarantee the safety of journalists in the state.

GOCOP noted with concern that Mr. Umahi’s statement came after Chijioke Agwu and Peter Okutu of The Sun and Vanguard Newspapers respectively were arrested by state agents over reports authored by them.

Umahi even placed a life ban on the reporters from entering and covering Ebonyi Government House.

In announcing the ban, the governor accused the journalists of creating panic in the states and that the people may unleash mayhem on them.

GOCOP strongly condemns the unconstitutional ban and allegation that journalists were creating panic in Ebonyi.

Coming from the person who swore to protect the lives of everybody under his watch, the governor’s statement is quite unfortunate.

The manner of the journalists’ arrest, harassment and subsequent release is a sad reminder of the dark days of military rule in Nigeria.

Being one of the poorest states in Nigeria, Ebonyi urgently needs to experience the much-touted “dividends of democracy”.

Harassing journalists and threatening that harm will come to them is the last thing the long-suffering people deserve from their governor.

If he feels aggrieved at the activities of journalists, Umahi is advised to seek civilised legal options available to every Nigerian citizen.

Resorting to self-help and threat is counter-productive.

GOCOP wishes to remind Governor Umahi that the democracy on which platform he rode into power was made possible by journalists, some of whom sacrificed their lives.

Working in the uncertain atmosphere created by COVID-19 coronavirus is challenging enough for journalists across Nigeria.

Working under threat to their lives is double jeopardy.

GOCOP, therefore, calls on Governor Umahi to apologise to the affected journalists and the entire Nigerian media.

The Guild also calls on President Buhari and IGP Adamu to ensure that journalists, particularly in Ebonyi State, are not harmed in the course of doing their jobs.

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NLNG supports fight against COVID-19, donates to Rivers - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has restated support for the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, urging resilience and adherence to social distancing rules, just as it donated to the government of Rivers State, reports ITREALMS.

NLNG remarked that it takes the health and safety of its stakeholders very seriously; adding that the measures it proactively put in place to prevent the spread of the disease was in line with its obligation to staff and social responsibility to stakeholders, host communities and Nigeria as a whole.

On the National level, the Company stated that it contributed to the over US$30 million financial support given to the Federal Government through the Oil and Gas Industry Collaborative initiative spearheaded by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to fight the virus.

NLNG stated further that it is working with relevant stakeholders to contain the spread of the virus in Rivers State and in its operational base, Bonny Island (currently with no confirmed case of infection), committing to some N1 billion in various interventions in the state.

The Company revealed that it has committed to the refurbishment of a building and set-up of a 10 bed Isolation/Holding Centre at the Bonny Zonal Hospital. In addition, NLNG has donated equipment and Personal Protective Equipment which include five suction machines, three single air conditioners for consulting rooms, five split air conditioners for wards and 10 patient monitors.

Other items donated for use on Bonny Island include one oxygen bank consisting of 5 bull nose cylinders, 10 drip stands, 10,000 one-fit N95 health care particulate respirator and surgical masks, 250,000 surgical masks, 50,000 nitrile gloves, 12,500 hooded coveralls with boots, 70 respirators, and wall mounted hand sanitizers. The Company added that it is also partnering with a committee set up by the Bonny Local Government Council to develop and implement a strategic plan to protect all those who live on, or visit the Island.

At the State level, NLNG is donating equipment and materials to upgrade specific facilities at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). The Company also donated items to the Government which includes two transport vehicles for contact tracing, five ventilators, 30 patient monitors as well as over 100,000 surgical masks. Other items donated by the Company include 30,000 nitrile gloves, 5,000 hooded coveralls, 8,000 respirators, 200 goggles and 200 face masks. The Company also continues to support the Government through its membership of an advisory team constituted by the State Ministry of Health to guard against the spread of the disease.

To help palliate hardship resulting from the stay-at-home order in the State, NLNG donated food items to its host communities.

NLNG concluded by stating that its contribution to the fight against the pandemic is in line with its vision of “…helping to build a better Nigeria”.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Pic 1: L-R: NLNG donates two vehicles to Rivers State for the fight against COVID-19. Professor Princewill Chike, Rivers State Commissioner of Health, received the donation on behalf of Governor Nyesom Wike from Joseph Alagoa, NLNG’s GM, Corporate Service who represented Tony Attah, NLNG MD in Port Harcourt …recently

COVID-19: FirstBank stays ahead for customers sake - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS: 

Amid shuttering of social activities especially commercial services, through various lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic, FirstBank has proven that as long as its customers require services, the Bank will be waiting right in front of them.

As key enablers of the economy, banks are providers of essential services to customers and communities.

Sequel to the pandemic outbreak, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria obtained Presidential approval to permit critical financial services to function during this period.

CBN further urged the general public to limit their use of cash and avail themselves of alternative payment channels such as mobile banking, internet banking, mobile money, Point of Sale (POS), and USSD banking; assuring that financial institutions will remain operational during this period and therefore people should guard against panic withdrawals from their banks.

The assumption that banks will be able to deliver services during this period, was no doubt predicated on the fact that institutions like FirstBank already had a fully functional digital infrastructure, to serve its customers through electronic channels.

In a statement to customers, FirsBank’s CEO Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, categorically made this promise to them: “COVID-19 will not slow us down”.

“These are unprecedented times,” acknowledges Adeduntan “We therefore promise that now more than ever we will remain steadfast, showing up for all Nigerians; we would always be there for you.

“As I reflect on the last two weeks, I am comforted by the resilience of our people. I look back at our commitment and contribution to keeping commerce going and enabling businesses.”

These reassuring words of Dr. Adeduntan, do not go without tangible proofs of the bank’s unrelenting efforts to stay ahead of the situation many customers feared would cripple banking transactions and further exacerbate the pains brought on by the pandemic.

Indeed, since the enforcement of the lockdown measure, regular and unique ancillary services continue to be seamlessly delivered by FirstBank.

The impressive achievements of FirstBank in service delivery, during this unexpected disruption to lives and businesses on a global scale, has been nothing short of the extraordinary.

Or how would you explain over 53,000 agents bringing banking services right to your doorsteps, processing over 5 million transactions with different and large monetary values in the week preceding 10 April.

How about an approximate 2.5 million withdrawals amounting to N35billion across FirstBank’s ATMS in a single week?

On record, FirstBank’s larger corporate customers have done over 1,700 transactions successfully on the bank’s e-bills platform worth N6.8billion during this challenging period.

Nigerians with FirstBank cards have used them 21 million times for payments or withdrawals, worth N268 million.

Customers have made transfers over 10 million times with a total value of about N615billion naira across FirstBank’s digital channels all in one week.

How does a bank get all these done under the prevalent lockdown and disruption of regular routine?

“Expertise and resilience are in our DNA,” explains the Bank’s CEO, “we are working tirelessly to ensure that your banking transactions continue seamlessly and will remain so; COVID-19 will neither slow us down nor defeat us.

We are holding up our side, and now more than ever we will uphold our promise to you to be here for you and put You First.”

Indeed, the capability of banks to render uninterrupted digital services and investment advisory across many channels, especially during a crisis, projects economic stability.

More than ever before, the importance of the services banks provide to individuals and communities extends beyond commercial interests, especially now that cash withdrawals far outstrip deposits.

As an unprecedented challenge to financial institutions like banks, the current coronavirus pandemic serves as a litmus test for them to prove their role as systemic stabilizers, delivering services at least in part for social good.

As the crisis lingers with no end in sight, FirstBank staff remarkably are in place to attend to customers’ needs, in spite of the social distancing measure.

The bank continues to maintain all pre-existing channels of communication including receiving emails through its firstcontact@firstbanknigeria. com address and urging customers to contact their Relationship Managers or Private Bankers for banking services guidance and advisory.

Despite the extra efforts banks may put into rendering uninterrupted services in times like this, they are doing nothing more, than to meet the expectations of customers and maintain economic stability.

From a tactical level, financial institutions like banks can do a lot to reduce consumer and business stress, because as deposit gatherers, credit grantors, and payment facilitators, banks play a vital role in the functioning of the economy.

However, delivering solutions tailored to each individual customer at this critical time, also engenders trust and brand loyalty.

“We recognize our role in keeping the engine going, keeping society going and recognize further, it is our responsibility to remain at the forefront of this; true to our name and in keeping with the incontrovertible fact that we are fully woven into the fabric of society. Our unparalleled network and total coverage of this nation serve us all well at this time ensuring service across the country via our safe, user friendly and convenient alternative channels are available for you 24/7,” says Adeduntan.

While Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy, large portions of the economy are in the informal sector and depend constantly on cash movement.

As the financial consequences mainly for MSMES become more serious due to paucity of inflows, (some major players in the economy – oil, aviation and tourism too are not spared) people will expect their banks to look out for them and protect them from imminent financial catastrophe.

Indeed, bank clients would like to see the pandemic brought under containment as soon as possible, in order to resume work and commercial activities. For them, a stable and reliable financial partner like FirstBank that has shown resilience and reliability would be an institution that can be leveraged on, to get business back on track and rolling as fast as possible, once this is over.

Adeduntan in concluding his statement says to the bank’s customers: “Rest assured that we are in this together, and together we will emerge stronger at the end of this period because this too shall pass. We have all it takes; your support, patronage and trust. We will always put You First”.

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Pix:  FirsBank’s CEO Dr. Adesola Adeduntan

Umahi must stop harassment of journalists, says NGE - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has noted with deep concerns, the persistent harassment of journalists in Ebonyi State on the orders of the state power brokers, including the Governor of the State, Mr. David Umahi.

The latest is the arrest of a reporter with Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Peter Okutu, on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at the behest of the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Council, Mr. Clement Odah. 

Peter Okutu was arrested in a gestapo manner by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, at a hotel in Abakaliki, after he was lured to the hotel by Mr. Odah, over a story on military invasion of Umuogodoakpu-Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Council. 

The bone of contention was not on the veracity of the story but on the number of persons allegedly killed during the military invasion.

Reports said Peter Okutu was invited to the hotel by the Local Government Chairman. 

Presuming that the LG Chairman was going to give more insight into the matter, he went with another reporter from another newspaper only for him to be arrested, harassed and whisked away by men of the SARS.

Surprisingly, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Awosola Awotunde, rather than intervene and rein in his men, justified the arrest and accused journalists of “heating up the polity.”

The Guild recalls that a similar incident took place in the same Ebonyi State barely four days ago, when a reporter with Sun Newspapers, Mr. Chijioke Agwu, was harassed and arrested at the Government House by the Chief Security Officer, CSO, on the orders of Governor Umahi.

The reporter was subsequently handed over to the state’s Commissioner of Police.

The angst of the Governor was a feature story on Lassa fever in Ebonyi, which centred mainly on statistics sourced from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, published in the Daily Sun of Friday, April 17, 2020. The Governor had also announced a ban, on The Sun and The Vanguard reporters, for life from the Ebonyi Government House. 

The Guild finds these actions of state actors utterly reprehensible and condemnable. 

"We are in a democracy and the Media shall at all times be free to perform its duties without hindrances, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (As amended). Ebonyi State should not constitute itself into a “Mafia” state where dictatorship, suppression of free speech and denigration of fundamental Human Rights reign supreme. It is not a good badge for the Governor or any other state actor to wear. It is disgraceful and disgusting. The Guild abhors such attempts at gagging free speech.

The Guild would like all stakeholders to note that journalists are not criminals who should be harassed, intimidated, arrested and subjected to inhuman treatment under any guise. If any person feels maligned by a media report, the least required of such a person is to put forward what he or she considers the correct narrative and in the spirit of right of reply, the media is obligated to publish same. 

Resorting to ambushing, arm-twisting and sundry guerrilla tactics does not help to assuage the matter, rather it exacerbates it.

Journalists are critical stakeholders and partners in national development and no attempt should be made to derail the efforts of the Press towards building a greater Nigeria.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors therefore, calls on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to call his men to order, not only in Ebonyi State, but all over the nation. 

The body of Editors calls for immediate cessation to all forms of harassment and arrest of journalists across the nation.
The Guild will also hold Governor Umahi responsible for the safety of, not only the two affected reporters, but other journalists practising in Ebonyi State.

Ozo Nweke Ozo/Editor

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