Headlines

Media practitioners advise politicians to shun electoral violence

The Eyewitness Reporter

Media professionals have called on the political class in Nigeria to shun violence, embrace peace, and exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship whenever they lose at the polls.

This position was upheld at the just concluded Public Lecture of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) under the theme “Post Election Nigeria: Paths To National Restoration & Peace”, which was held at the Combo Hall of LTV on Wednesday in Lagos.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi said: “The 2023 General Elections have brought different issues in its aftermath as a number of court cases are still being pursued against the election outcome.

“Nigeria has a long history of violence during elections which sadly manifested again in 2023.

“Closely related to violence was the suppression of voters, which is also known as deliberate disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

“The increased use of technology in Nigerian elections has reduced the kind of rigging that was traditional; such as ballot box snatching and stuffing, multiple voting, over voting and alteration of results.”

Ajayi further revealed that insufficient voter education and logistical challenges were some of the grey areas of the 2023 General Elections.

“At the Post-Election Review of the 2023 General Elections with Media Stakeholders recently in Lagos, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said that there were many positive things that came out of the 2023 elections in spite of many challenges,” he said.

The NUJ Chairman affirmed that efforts should be made to address the lapses of the 2023 elections for better outcomes in subsequent elections in order to chart a path for restoration and peace in the country.

On his part, the Chairman of the Occasion and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Martins Oloja urged Nigerians to be hopeful of a better country.

“National Orientation is key for us to believe in ourselves and Nigeria. Although the journey to total restoration may be far, but we need to have faith in our country and profession,” he advised.

Oloja said Journalism remains the best profession in the world because the media is capable of calling the three arms of government (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) to order whenever the need arises.

Oloja revealed that the major responsibility of the media is to build content for restoration, and peace and not to be blown away with politricks.

The guest Speaker, Prof. Sunday Alawode, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Lagos State University (LASU), tasked Journalists to be patriotic in discharging their duties as an ill-motivated story can tear the country apart.

“Elections should not be seen as a war in Nigeria. Losers should be able to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship because they can win some other time.

“As journalist, we should build a Nigeria of our own dreams that we can bequeath to our children.

“Government should be about meeting the needs of Nigerians and not for furthering personal gains,” he added.

The University Don who acknowledged that Rome was not built in a day, said it will require the collective responsibility of the citizenry to restore Nigeria to a peaceful and progressive nation.

The Scholar urged the government to speedily tackle corruption, poverty and insecurity in order to confront some of the challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

“Nigeria needs strong institutions to move forward just as we also need to hold people accountable to the Government,” Alawode explained.

He urged media owners to secure Insurance coverage for journalists, as many lives have been lost on the job, leaving the family of the deceased hopeless.

General Manager, Lagos Traffic Radio, Mr. Tayo Akanle, reiterated the need for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. “Without peace, unity and tolerance, it will be hard for us to progress as a nation,” Akanle echoed.

A Panel of Discussants comprising the President, the Guild of Online Publishers, Ms. Maureen Chigbo; Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Peter Dada, and the Director Public Affairs, Lagos State Government, Mr. Shina Odunuga took time to respond to questions from some attendees at the event.

Other dignitaries at the event were the General Manager, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Mr. Jide Lawal; the General Manager, LTV, Olori Adesola Kosoko; some leaders of the Union such as Otunba Gbenga Onayiga; and former National Trustee of NUJ Sylvester Okereke, amongst others.

Headlines

May Day: Mobereola salutes maritime workers for passion, dedication to building virile industry

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

The Director – General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has saluted the courage , passion and dedication of maritime workers to building strong and virile industry.

In his message at the Workers’ day on May 1st, 2026, the NIMASA DG extolled the virtues of workers and acknowledged the distinguished service of various stakeholders whose efforts he noted continue to significantly contribute to the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

Dr. Mobereola, while wishing stakeholders a Happy Workers’ Day said “to all the amazing officers and stakeholders in the maritime sector who bring their passion and expertise to work daily.

“Thank you for your dedication and invaluable contributions”.

He emphasized that as a regulator, the Agency remains committed to its oversight function of regulating maritime labour activities in the industry in line with extant instruments and the expectations of the theme of the 2026 Workers’ Day, which focuses on safety, dignity and productivity.

Customs

Kaila, Seme Customs CAC, seeks collaboration with stakeholders to achieve seemless trade along border corridor

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The new Area Controller of the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has reached out to traditional rulers and sister agencies at the border communities to ensure the achievement of his mandate of detection, determent of smuggling, revenue generation and trade facilitation along the border corridor.

To achieve these objectives, Comptroller Kaila went on tour of the communities within the border corridor where he met and sought for the support and cooperation of major critical stakeholders, including the traditional rulers and sister agencies.

According to him, his objective was to eradicate trade hindrances affecting free movement of goods and services along the Lagos-Abidjan business corridor.

Speaking at the Palace of Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, the Customs Area Controller condoled with the royal family and entire people of Badagry kingdom on the passing away of HRM De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I who was a well recognized traditional ruler across the border communities.

“”The purpose of my visit is to introduce myself as the Area Controller of Seme Command and to equally seek your royal blessing and support to achieve the core mandate of the service.

“Our priority remains to generate revenue, facilitate trade, and suppress smuggling.

“And we in the Customs believe that without due support and co-operation from traditional rulers, we can not have effective performance of our functions as Customs officers” he said

The King Regent, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, who described Kaila as the son of the soil, added that “We have listened to your request.

” Know that Badagry is a very peaceful town, and we will keep collaborating with you in safeguarding our borders and in promoting legitimate trade, ” he stated.

Comptroller Kaila also visited the Onibereko of Ibereko Awori-Kingdom, where the monarch, Oba Israel Okoya, signifies his commitment to fostering the service relationship with residents living within the border communities

“I welcome you to Badagry and be rest assured that I will always talk to my people whenever the need is required.

” In our town, our youth does not engage in illegalities as I have no other choice than to assist you in achieving the government mandate, ” he mentioned

While at the Palace of Alapa of Apa Kingdom, the king HRM Oba Oyekan Ajose Ilufemiloye commended and described the CAC, Comptroller Kaila as a professional, seasoned and well respected officer as described by indigenes of border communities.

“I promise you that I will always assist you in my area for anything that you need.

“Our border here has been peaceful because our youth always listen to the elders, and I know with your presence here, things will change for the better, ” he said

In his efforts to consolidate on existing synergy between sister security agencies, Kaila also visited Headquarters of 653 Nigerian Air force base, Ahanve-Badagry.

The Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hungruy Medugu,expressed the readiness of the formation to always support the command in achieving its mandate.

“Our collaboration has been key to various successes we have recorded in our area of responsibility.

” Your presence here strengthens existing bonds of inter-agency collaboration between both Services, and we will not take it for granted ,” he said

The Area Controller then ended his familirisation tour with seeking for mutual cooperation with a visit to the Republic of Benin Police office, showing his readiness to eradicate hindrances affecting the free movement of goods and services across the border.

Headlines

Opeifa decries encroachment on NRC properties across the country

— praises collaboration with Abia, Enugu govts.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reiterated his displeasure over the widespread practice of encroachment on the properties of the Nigerian Railways Corporation across the country, warning that such action would not be tolerated by his administration.

Opeifa was speaking during the separate meetings he recently had with the governments of both Abia and Enugu states.

Represented by the Railway District Manager, Eastern District, Mr. Agwonye Francis Ejike, the NRC boss quickly condemned the occupation of the Corporation’s right- of – way by squatters in Umuahia, while correcting the wrongly- held belief that the Railway is defunct.

Opeifa however applauded the cordial and collaborative relationship between the Corporation and the governments of both Abia and Enugu.

According to him, such productive harmony can only yield even greater positive results for the benefit of the people.

During the Umuahia meeting, Dr. Opeifa strongly praised the Abia State Government for its crucial assistance in clearing the NRC’s right-of-way within Umuahia.

He reiterated unequivocally that no one is permitted to build any structure on railway property without obtaining express approval from his office.

Appealing directly to the public, he urged for greater patience, stressing that the plans for the critical track extension from Aba, through Umuahia to Enugu and beyond, remain very much on course.

Responding on behalf of the Abia State Government, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh stated that the State Government is actively engaging all stakeholders by providing alternative, seamless locations for those currently conducting business on the railway right-of-way.

He further revealed that the state government has already finalized plans to plant trees along the route, creating a leisurely and aesthetically conducive environment for relaxation, replacing previous commercial activities.

The high-powered team then embarked on an extensive inspection of the alternative relocation site for displaced persons; the demolition site where iron barrier installation is progressing; the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal; the site for the new Umuahia Railway Station; and the route for the proposed link road passing through the existing railway station.

The meeting also explored the provision of a temporary location for the Railway Police and the PTO, pending the construction of the new Umuahia Station, which is designed to include a police station and other NRC offices.

The same impactful message was delivered to Enugu State, where the Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozoh (representing the State Government), equally assured the NRC MD of the Enugu State Government’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Corporation to achieve its aims and objectives.

Describing Dr. Opeifa as a personal friend from their private sector days, Dr. Ozoh lauded him as a leader who “knows perfectly well what he is doing.”

He further assured the NRC that the Enugu State Government will actively assist in demolishing any obstruction on the Corporation’s right-of-way, stressing that the state eagerly awaits the flag-off to recommence construction of the rail line from Aba to Enugu and beyond.