Politics
IPI Blacklists Govs Bago, Eno, IGP Egbetokun over Press Freedom Breaches
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has placed two serving governors and the country’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on its newly released “Book of Infamy” over what it describes as repeated attacks on press freedom.
The announcement was made during the second annual IPI Nigeria conference held in Abuja, where Vice President Kashim Shettima officially unveiled the list.
According to the institute, Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and the IGP were selected after several warnings and interventions failed to stop what the organisation called clear violations of journalists’ rights.
The IPI said the list was created as a public record of officials whose actions undermined the work of the media and threatened free expression in the country.
Governor Bago was cited for directing the shutdown of Badeggi FM, a privately owned radio station in Niger State.
The organisation stressed that the governor lacked the legal authority to close a licensed broadcast outlet and ignored their appeal asking him to reverse the order.
In Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno was named for preventing Channels Television personnel from covering official activities at the Government House, a restriction that lasted despite multiple interventions by media groups.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was listed for allowing the continued harassment and detention of journalists by police operatives across various states.
IPI Nigeria noted that it had written the police leadership several times, urging them to curtail arbitrary arrests, but received no meaningful response.
While announcing the blacklist, the organisation also recognised a top security official for positive reforms.
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, received an award for what the IPI described as constructive engagement with media organisations and a willingness to correct long-standing institutional excesses.
One example highlighted was the removal of the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, from a watchlist he had reportedly been placed on for about four decades.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the Tinubu administration considers a free and independent press essential to national development.
He emphasised that security agencies have been instructed to respect journalists’ rights, especially in conflict zones and during civil demonstrations, adding that the government remains committed to ensuring media houses operate without fear or interference.
Idris also noted that the presence of the Vice President at the event underscored the administration’s position that open dialogue and accountability must continue to guide Nigeria’s democracy.
In his remarks, IPI Nigeria leadership said the Book of Infamy will be updated periodically as a formal historical record of those who obstruct press freedom, and as a reminder that public officials must respect constitutional rights.
Politics
Breaking: Niger State First Lady Mobilises Stakeholders For Maternal, Child Health Campaign
Wife of Niger State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Bago, has called on wives of local government chairmen, women leaders, traditional and religious institutions and other stakeholders to mobilise communities and ensure every woman and child benefits from maternal and child healthcare services across the state.
She made the call during the flag-off of the 2026 first round of the June/July Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Tafa, Tafa Local Government Area, held in collaboration with development partners and funded by the United States Government.
The governor’s wife also urged pregnant women and nursing mothers to regularly visit health facilities, noting that more women and children are increasingly accessing healthcare services across the state.
“Healthcare is a shared responsibility. Government cannot do it alone. We all have a role to play in ensuring that mothers and children receive the care they deserve,” Mrs Bago noted.
She urged residents to become advocates of primary healthcare in their communities to improve access to essential health services and ensure that no woman or child is left behind.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana, said the health of women and children remains critical to the state’s development agenda.
“Our determination is to strengthen healthcare delivery, expand access to essential services and improve the quality of life of our people,” he stated.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, NSPHCDA, Dr. Junaidu Inuwa, said the campaign was aimed at ensuring healthcare services reach communities across the state.
In separate goodwill messages, development partners, including the World Health Organization, WHO, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, described the initiative as a demonstration of Niger State’s commitment to improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes through integrated health and nutrition services.
Speaking on behalf of development partners, Chief of UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Gerida Birukila, represented by Grace Odeyemi, said sustained collaboration would help build a healthier and more resilient state.
“Together, we can build a healthier, stronger and more resilient Niger State where every mother survives and every child thrives,” she said
The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has removed the names of Ahmed Yayari and Daniel Woyengikuro from its portal as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Treasurer and National Financial Secretary, respectively.
A check by DAILY POST shows that both names have also been replaced with Odeyemi Mackson Oladiran and Eyim Donatus Henry as the new executives.
Yayari and Woyengikuro who are part of the Makinde-backed Turaki faction while Odeyemi and Eyim are members of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s faction, which is also the recognised faction of the PDP.
INEC had earlier recognised Wike’s faction by putting the names of Abdulrahman Mohammed as the National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary, but had left the names of Yayari and Woyengikuro as part of the executives.
With the recent update on its portal, all executives of the PDP on INEC’s portal are now aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
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