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Press Day: NGIJ Calls on Government to Strengthen Press Freedom in Nigeria

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As the world commemorates the global Press Freedom Day on May 3, the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has called on the Federal as well as state governments in Nigeria to ensure that the media is independent and journalists are truly free to practice without any fear of intimidation or persecution.

The guild said journalists are a critical partner in nation-building and should not be gagged, intimidated, harassed, maimed or killed for doing their lawful duties as guaranteed by the Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 19 of the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The NGIJ made this call in a statement on Sunday in Lagos signed by Mr Israel Bolaji, the guild’s Vice President (Information and Strategy).

Calling for a more strengthened press freedom and release of detained journalists, the guild said, “According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, about 250 journalists worldwide are currently behind bars.”

“In Nigeria, between January 2019 and November 2019, the Media recorded at least 71 attacks including arrests, detention, intimidation and killings”, according to The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), a coalition including Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, International Press Centre (IPC), HEDA Resource Centre, Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ and SERAP.

“The popular cases of Agba Jalingo, Abiri Jones, Peter Okutu, Chijioke Agwu and others also readily come to mind. Detaining journalists for doing their job runs contrary to the obligation to ensure an enabling environment for the media. The criminalization of journalism must end. That should start with releasing journalists from detention in Nigeria urgently. “

Bolaji noted that journalists go through difficult hurdles to get the nation informed. “For example, under the current circumstance of the global Covid-19 pandemic, journalists risk their lives as front liners to source accurate information which are shared with people to help make well-informed health decisions that can make the difference between life and death.

“As the pandemic spreads attacking over 3 million people globally and over two thousand in Nigeria, the press has contributed significantly by sharing verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis. This helps in countering the scourge of misinformation, stemming from sensational health advice and conspiracy theories.”

Urging journalists not to relent, NGIJ said the media must remain professional and known for providing facts and insightful analysis; for holding leaders – in every sector – accountable; and for speaking truth to power.

“We call on governments to protect journalists and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for a future of peace, justice and human rights for all, Bolaji concluded.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Mother’s Day: Ajadi Commends Nigerian Women For Their Pivotal Roles …Says They Are Unsung Heroes

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Mother’s Day: Ajadi Commends Nigerian Women For Their Pivotal Roles …Says They Are Unsung Heroes

 

A South West Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has used the occasion of this year’s Mother’s Day to extol the virtue of Nigerian women, saying they are playing pivotal role in building families.

While appreciating his wife Mrs Oyindamola Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, his deputy in 2023 gubernatorial election, Alhaja Shakirat Arowolo for their unquantifiable support, and all women in the country for their inestimable sacrifices, Ajadi described mothers as the unsung heroes, whose impact resonates far beyond what words could describe.

Ajadi, who made this known while speaking with journalists on the occasion of this year’s Mother’s Day, said Mother’s commitment and dedication to raising the next generation is truly inspiring.

Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

Ajadi called on President Bola Tinubu and the state governors to give more role to women in nation’s building through allocation of more political offices in government.

He said that governments at all levels in the country should work towards achieving the Beijing Declaration of having 30 percent of women in elective and political appointments.

Ajadi, who was the governorship candidate of the NNPP in Ogun State in 2023, said that the need to give more women voices in governance made him to have a female Deputy, Alhaja Shakirat Arowolo during the general election.

According to him, “I rejoice with our women on the occasion of the 2025 Mother’s Day. You are the unsung heroes, whose impact resonates far beyond what words could describe.

“Your commitment and dedication to raising the next generation is truly inspiring. I celebrate all mothers, they are the heart of families, the nurturers of children, and the pillars of society.

“Today, I honour every mother especially those who care tirelessly for the families, who balance work and home, and those who, in spite of challenges, continue to give their best.
“I say to all mothers that the country’s future lies in the values, wisdom and love we instil in the coming generation.“Happy Mother’s Day.

“I also use the occasion of this year’s Mother’s Day to call on the President and State Governors as well as the Nigerian electorate to remember the Beijing Declaration that seeks 30 percent for women in elective and political appointments.

“It is sad that out of 109 Senators, we have only about five women. The percentage in the House of Representatives is also very low. Most state governments are having male governors and deputies. We must change this situation in the coming elections.”

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FCT Police PRO Warns Women: ‘No Title Is Worth Losing Your Dignity Over!’”

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FCT Police PRO Warns Women: ‘No Title Is Worth Losing Your Dignity Over!’”

In a bold and thought-provoking statement, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, has issued a strong warning to women about preserving their dignity in relationships.

Taking to social media amid the buzz surrounding Senator Natasha’s alleged decision to adopt music icon 2Face Idibia’s surname, Adeh minced no words in cautioning women against compromising their self-respect for fleeting titles.

“A man who easily replaces a woman will do it again,” she declared in a now-viral post, emphasizing that a man’s treatment of women reflects his character and is being closely observed by his children and society at large.

Adeh urged women to be vigilant, noting that if a man abandoned his wife for another woman, history could repeat itself.

“My fellow gender, no title is worth losing your dignity over. If he left her for you, don’t celebrate just yet—your turn may come. Protect your heart, your finances, and your future. Don’t mistake temporary passion for lasting love. Love is sweet, but wisdom is necessary,” she warned.

Her message, posted in celebration of Mother’s Day, has since sparked heated debates online, with some applauding her candidness while others argue that love and relationships are deeply personal matters.

As the conversation continues to swirl, one thing is clear—Adeh’s powerful words have struck a nerve, leaving many reflecting on the true cost of love, loyalty, and dignity in relationships.

FCT Police PRO Warns Women: ‘No Title Is Worth Losing Your Dignity Over!’"

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UK-Based Nigerian Doctor Exposed in BBC Undercover Sting for Alleged Job Scam

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UK-Based Nigerian Doctor Exposed in BBC Undercover Sting for Alleged Job Scam

UK-Based Nigerian Doctor Exposed in BBC Undercover Sting for Alleged Job Scam

 

In a shocking revelation, a UK-based Nigerian doctor, Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, has been caught in an undercover BBC investigation, allegedly selling fake job opportunities to foreign nationals. The explosive exposé has sent shockwaves across immigration circles, exposing the dark underbelly of fraudulent recruitment schemes.

Dr. Alaneme, a psychiatrist and founder of CareerEdu, an agency in Harlow, Essex, was secretly filmed offering bogus employment opportunities in the UK care sector. The BBC launched the covert operation after numerous online complaints surfaced about CareerEdu’s dubious relocation services.

CareerEdu, which touts itself as a “launchpad for global opportunities catering to young Africans,” claims to have over 9,800 satisfied clients. However, the BBC investigation suggests otherwise, revealing an intricate scam where desperate job seekers were lured with promises of employment—only to be left stranded upon arrival.

The undercover journalist, posing as a potential partner, was offered a lucrative role to help secure care home vacancies. “Just get me care homes. I can make you a millionaire,” Dr. Alaneme was caught saying in a secretly recorded conversation. He reportedly promised £2,000 ($2,600) per vacancy and an additional £500 ($650) commission to those willing to facilitate the operation.

The scheme allegedly involved selling these non-existent vacancies to desperate job seekers in Nigeria, who paid hefty sums believing they were securing legal employment in the UK. One such victim, identified as Praise, a Nigerian man in his mid-30s, claimed he paid over £10,000 ($13,000) for a job that never existed. Upon arrival in the UK, he realized he had been scammed. “If I had known there was no job, I would not have come here. At least, back home in Nigeria, I could find food. Here, you go hungry,” he lamented.

Further digging into the scam exposed discrepancies in employment records. Efficiency for Care, one of the agencies linked to the scandal, reportedly employed just 16 people in 2022 and 152 in 2023. Yet, official records show it issued a staggering 1,234 Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) between March 2022 and May 2023.

Dr. Alaneme was also caught explaining how he allegedly manipulated payroll systems to fabricate employment records. “That [a money trail] is what the government needs to see,” he stated in another secretly recorded conversation.

Despite the damning evidence, Dr. Alaneme has strongly denied all allegations, insisting that CareerEdu is neither a recruitment agency nor a company that provides jobs for cash. In a social media post, he wrote, “I have never scammed or defrauded anyone in my life. And I never will.” He further argued that payments made by victims were transferred to recruitment agents for transportation, accommodation, and training expenses.

However, the BBC report suggests that the scam follows a wider trend of immigration fraud. In 2024, four Nigerians were sentenced in the UK for running an elaborate visa scam, forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to facilitate illegal residency. The latest BBC exposé raises fresh concerns over the exploitation of desperate job seekers and the growing network of fraudulent recruiters profiting from their plight.

As authorities investigate further, victims like Praise remain in limbo, left jobless and struggling to survive in a foreign land. The scandal has sparked an outcry, with many calling for stricter immigration controls and tougher penalties for those found guilty of such fraudulent schemes.

 

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