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Release Journalist, Kenneth Nyangani: AFEX Urges Zimbabwean Authorities

Felicia Anthonio
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Release Journalist, Kenneth Nyangani: AFEX Urges Zimbabwean Authorities

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) urges the police in Zimbabwe to unconditionally release journalist, Kenneth Nyangani who was arrested on October 2 over a story he wrote about a donation by the First Lady to ruling party supporters.

Police arrested Nyangani, who works with privately-owned NewsDay newspaper “for allegedly writing and publishing a story over the donation of used undergarments” to supporters of the Zimbabwe African National – Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) by Grace Mugabe.

According to media reports, police on October 3, 2017, charged Nyangani with “criminal nuisance” as defined in section 46 (2) (v) of the Criminal Law Act.

If the Office of the First Lady has any concerns about the said publication, it has the right to a rejoinder. To press criminal charges against the journalist for being critical or sarcastic is a violation of his fundamental rights to free speech.

AFEX wishes to believe that the harassment of Nyangani is the work of overzealous officials who think it will please The First Lady.

We therefore urge Her Excellency, Grace Mugabe to disavow her interest in the violation against the journalist and order the police to release him and drop charges against him.

 

AFEX Bemoans Crackdown on Protesters in Anglophone Regions of Cameroon

Felicia Anthonio
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AFEX Bemoans Crackdown on Protesters in Anglophone Regions of Cameroon

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) denounces the brutality of Cameroon’s security forces against unarmed civilians reportedly killing 12 people and injuring many persons in the country’s English-speaking regions. AFEX also decries the government’s decision to shut down the internet for the second time this year amidst protests.

According to AFEX sources in Cameroon, security agents on October 1, 2017, fired live bullets and tear gas at demonstrators who had gathered in different parts of the two regions to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the proclamation of the Independence of Anglophone Cameroon. A total of 12 persons have been killed leaving several others injured across the North-west and South-west regions of Cameroon.

Prior to the unrest, there have been reports of heavy military presence in the two regions ahead of the scheduled Independence Day Commemoration. Also, the government ordered the closure of Cameroon’s border with Nigeria over the weekend, restricting people’s freedom of movement.

Meanwhile, there have been reports of complete Internet blackout in Anglophone Cameroon and the disruption of certain social media platforms in the Francophone regions of the country following the October 1st unrest.

AFEX is dismayed that the Cameroonian government can resort to an Internet shutdown barely six months after it was compelled to end the 94 day blackout which was widely condemned as gross violation of freedom of expression and access to information rights of the Anglophone people. It is unimaginable that the government of Cameroon would plunge Cameroon into another Internet blackout when the country has hardly recovered from the heavy social and economic cost of the previous shutdown.

The government has not made any official communication regarding the unrest. However, President Paul Biya has condemned the acts of violence as deplorable “regardless of their source and their perpetrators”, on his official Facebook account. He also recognised the need to uphold freedom of expression rights in the regions.  

“Let us understand that it is not forbidden to express concerns in the Republic. On the other hand, nothing big can be built in verbal escalation, street violence and the challenge to the authority”, read the Facebook post.

Nevertheless, we urge President Paul Biya to order the security agents to stop using lethal force against unarmed civilians. We also call for thorough investigations into the reported killings and other violations for prompt redress. The Cameroonian government must assume its responsibility to ensure respect for freedom of expression, association and other fundamental rights in the two regions.

There has been unrest in the two English-speaking regions for the past eleven months with the Anglophone population agitating against perceived marginalization from the government.

For more information about this statement or AFEX, please contact Felicia Anthonio info{@}africafex.org, or visit the AFEX website at www.africafex.org.

Police Arrests Journalists Covering Opponents of Age Limit Removal

Felicia Anthonio
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This statement was originally published on hrnjuganda.org on September 20, 2017.

Police in Wadegeya arrested and detained five journalists who were covering a press conference at Mulago Kubiri- a Kampala surbub, organized   by youth activists-Youth Against Dictatorship protesting the constitutional amendment of the presidential  age limit clause.

The journalists included, Akatuhurira Nelson and  Livingstone Matovu both of B24 Television, Bulegeya Ronnie of Dream Television, Kyambadde Lawrence of Salt Media and Titus Jjemba of BBS Television.

“We were arrested and bundled onto the police pickup truck by officers under the command of a one Kasembeza and taken to Wandegeya Police Station,” said Akatuhurira Nelson.

He further told HRNJ-Uganda that while at the police station, they were interrogated for about twenty minutes on who mobilized them to cover the press conference and why they give coverage to such people.

The journalists were released without recording any statement.

“The police officers confiscated our gadgets but they were returned without deleting any information upon our release,” Bulegeya informed HRNJ-Uganda. Adding that the Officer in Charge Wandegeya Police Station Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abwang Samuel warned them against covering such people and in the alternative inform them if they are to give coverage to such activities.

When HRNJ-Uganda contacted the Police Spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan Police Emilian Kayima, he confirmed the arrest but attributed it to an operational mishap by the field officers contending that the journalists were unconditionally released by the police when they identified themselves.

Close to ten journalists have been arrested or assaulted in relation to the coverage of views of people in or against the constitutional amendment of the age limit clause in a space of one week.

Article 102(b) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda that is being sought to be amended is to the effect that a person does not qualify to contest for presidency if he/she is less than thirty five years (35) or above seventy five (75) years).

NUSOJ Holds Training on Freedom of Expression and Media Law for Somali Journalists

Felicia Anthonio
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NUSOJ Holds Training on Freedom of Expression and Media Law for Somali Journalists

This statement was originally published on nusoj.org on September 23, 2017.

A training on freedom of expression, media law and defamation, organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), was today held in Mogadishu, attracting 35 journalists who are working in Mogadishu.

Journalists received legal analysis of the articles in the media bill that was passed by Somalia’s council of Ministers, together with presentations on underlying principles of freedom of expression, limitations on freedom of expression, criminal defamation in Somalia’s penal code; and defamation vs public debate.

The objective of this initiative by NUSOJ, which is supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), is to contribute to better democratic governance in Somalia through improving journalists’ understanding of freedom of expression standards, media laws and the quality of information available to the populace, whilst giving journalists the opportunity to learn about the principles behind criminal defamation laws in Somalia.

Participating journalists highlighted that Somalia’s legal reform on freedom of expression and of the media has not gone far enough given that 2016 media law and media bill passed on 13 July 2017 contain harsh provisions that will endanger media freedom and journalists’ rights. Participants recounted increasing number of cases of journalists who are charged under criminal law for practicing journalism profession, while courts continue to award public officials exorbitant amounts in damages.

A series of amendments to a law regulating the media in Somalia will, if passed in its current form, dramatically undermine freedom of expression and journalists’ fundamental rights, said journalists attending this training.

“We know politicians who are demanding for more stringent laws and administrative control mechanisms to justify reducing space for free media. But journalists are clearly convinced that July 13 media bill is dangerous and excessively severe” said Abdi Adan Guled, acting President of NUSOJ Supreme Council.

NUSOJ wants progressive media laws to promote democracy in Somalia as a free media with access to information can enhance people’s awareness to resolve Somalia’s multifaceted problems and ensure citizen’s full enjoyment of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

However, independent journalists at this event stressed the path the Ministry of Information of the Federal Government is taking which is empowering itself and other governmental entities to control the independent media or adding more restrictive laws to regulate must be rethought and abandoned.

The leaders of the union and journalists attending the event agreed to renew efforts to have the law on criminal defamation scrapped from Somalia’s penal code.

“The provisions in Somalia’s criminal law are not reflective of the provisional constitution of Somalia, international and regional freedom of expression and media freedoms standards which Somalia has committed to uphold and need to be urgently reviewed,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “The federal government should expunge these criminal legal provisions on defamation from Somalia’s law books as they are inconsistent with laws that safeguard freedom of expression and of the media”.

 

Somalia, South Sudan, Still a Minefield for Journalists

Felicia Anthonio
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Somalia, South Sudan, Still a Minefield for Journalists

Journalists continue to face danger while reporting in conflict zones across the Horn of Africa region. Several journalists have been physically assaulted, arrested and in some cases killed in their quest to bring information to the citizenry. Two journalists have died in line of duty between August 25, 2017 and September 14, 2017, in Somalia and South Sudan.

Having earned the reputation for attacking journalists and ordinary citizens, insurgents in Somalia struck again on September 10, 2017, in Beledweyne town, Central Somalia resulting in injury of some journalists one of whom later died of severe head injuries. Six other persons were killed during the blast leaving several others injured.

The three journalists, Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan working with Saab TV, Abdulkadir Omar Ibrahim a reporter of RTN TV and Abdullahi Osman Moallim working with Jubaland TV were waiting at the Siligga restaurant  to cover local politicians at when the bomb detonated. Moallim, a 24 year old later succumbed to his head injuries at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Central Somalia on September 13, 2017.

However, Abdikhadir Omar Ibrahim, RTN TV reporter survived the attack but with horrific injuries and traumatic memories.

“Before the blast I was living with relative happiness.  Now I’m in a state of shock and morally destroyed, not only the wounds of the blast, but the loss of my colleague Abdullahi Osman Moallin who succumbed to his injuries.  This has huge impact on my life.  Not to trust where people gather in large number.  In other words, my work of reporting will be jeopardized by this experience forever. The worst of all is, the physical wound can be treated, but the moral wound will stay persistently”, he told AFEX.

In a similar incident, Christopher Allen, a freelance journalist and US citizen was shot dead while covering a conflict in Kaya, South Sudan on August 26, 2017. Allen was – caught in crossfire as government forces exchanged fire with rebel elements near the border with Uganda.

The issue of safety of journalists needs urgent attention on the continent especially in conflict-zone areas. The killing and maiming of journalists, sometimes deliberately, during conflicts is unacceptable. Journalists should be free to carry out their watchdog role.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) and its members, National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in Somalia and Association of Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) urge the governments in the two countries to take drastic actions to protect journalists as well as open judicial investigations into the deadly violence against journalists.

We encourage media owners and media workers in the two countries to also take precautionary measure while covering conflicts.

Police Officers Assault Journalists, Confiscate their Gadgets

Felicia Anthonio
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Police Officers Assault Journalists, Confiscate their Gadgets

This statement was originally published on hrnjuganda.org on September 13, 2017.

Police officers of Kigungu Post Police on September 13th, 2017 assaulted and confiscated gadgets of journalists who had gone to Kigungu Landing Site to cover the sensitization campaign of Democratic Party dubbed “Kogikwatako” against the amendment of the Age Limit clause.

Two journalists, Ssebalamu Kigongo of Bukedde television was manhandled and Sande Ssebagala of NBS Television was assaulted, his shirt torn and his camera was confiscated. The journalists implicated Wambete Cuthbert, the Officer in Charge of Kigungu Police Post, Mugenyi Ambrose, the Community Liaison Officer and other police officers of being responsible for the assaults and confiscation of gadgets.

“I was stopped from recording the views of the people about the said campaign by the Officer in Charge of Kigungu Police Post Wambete Cuthbert insisting that I had to first seek permission from the police and a scuffle ensued as he and other officers tried to confiscate my camera.”  Ssebalamu Kigongo told HRNJ-Uganda.

Sande Ssebagala on his part told HRNJ-Uganda that he was recording the scuffle between Ssebalamu Kigongo and the police officers when he was suddenly attacked by the OC Kigungu police post Wambete and he confiscated his Sony camera and tripod stand. “I was then manhandled, roughed up and had my shirt torn by Mugenyi Ambrose.” he further narrated to HRNJ-Uganda. This information was corroborated by Muganga Evie of Radio One and Diana Kibuuka of CBS Radio who gave accounts of how the two journalists were assaulted.

However speaking to HRNJ-Uganda, the OC Kigungu Police Post Wambete Cuthbert acknowledged that had been a scuffle but he denied assaulting and confiscating the journalists’ gadgets and pledged to help the journalists recover their gadgets.

“As an Organization, we are going to pursue the individual police officers implicated in these acts and make sure that justice is served to the affected journalists.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala

Journalist Dies of Wounds from Bomb Attack in Central Somalia

Felicia Anthonio
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Journalist Dies of Wounds from Bomb Attack in Central Somalia

This statement was originally published on nusoj.org on September 13, 2017.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is deeply saddened to learn that journalist Abdullahi Osman Moallim of Jubaland TV succumbed to serious head wounds sustained from suicide blast in Beledweyne town.

Abdullahi Osman Moallim died at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital (formerly known Digfeer hospital) in Mogadishu on Wednesday morning, at 4:47am as pronounced by medical doctors. Moallim has been in hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) since 11 September when he was admitted to the hospital.

“We send our deepest sympathy to the family and colleagues of Abdullahi Osman Moallim in Hiran region, the latest in a string of brave young reporters to be killed in Somalia,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “Condemning this killing is not enough-authorities must do more to catch murderers who masterminded this heinous crime and deployed the suicide bomber”.

On 10 September, three journalists, namely Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan who works for Saab TV, Abdulkadir Omar Ibrahim of RTN TV and Simba Radio as well as Abdullahi Osman Moallim of Jubaland TV were wounded in suicide attack at Siligga restaurant at the entrance of headquarters of Hiran regional administration. Due to seriousness of his wounds, Abdullahi Osman Moallim was evacuated to Mogadishu for urgent medical attention.

Abdullahi Osman Moallim, 24, will be laid to rest in this morning and is survived by wife and a son.

Nigeria’s National TV Authority Receives ‘FOI Hall of Shame’ Award

Felicia Anthonio
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This statement was originally published on mediarightsagenda.net on September 11, 2017.

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was today named the latest recipient of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Hall of Shame award for failing to promote the FOI Act and ensure its effective implementation as a public service media organization as well as for its non-compliance with its obligations under the Act as a public institution.

In a statement in Lagos, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) said it was well aware of the irony of inducting into the FOI Hall of Shame a national news organization established for the sole purpose of providing news and information to the public and which should ordinarily be at the forefront of promoting the FOI Act and advocating total compliance with the provisions of the Law by other public institutions.

Mrs. Mosunmola Olanrewaju, MRA’s Programme Manager in charge of Legal Matters, said her organization was constrained to award the dubious honour to the NTA because in addition to failing to promote the Act and monitor compliance by other public institutions, the national broadcaster was itself consistently in flagrant disregard of its statutory duties and obligations as a public institution covered by the Act, thereby undermining its implementation and effectiveness.

Mrs. Olanrewaju noted: “The NTA, being the national television network, considering its wide reach and its key function, which is to provide news and information as a public service in the interest of Nigeria, is expected to set the pace by complying with all the obligations imposed on it by the FOI Act. As purveyors of information, one would have thought that compliance with the proactive disclosure obligations imposed on the NTA as a public institution would be second nature to it. Unfortunately, the reverse appears to be the case as the organization does no proactive disclosure as required by Section 2(3), (4) and (5) of the FOI Act.”

According to MRA, all public institutions, a class to which the NTA clearly belongs, being a body established by Law, providing a public service and utilizing public funds, are expected to proactively disclose certain types of information listed in Section 2(3) (a) to (f) of the FOI Act, by various means including print, electronic and online sources.

However, it said, the NTA is not doing this, in addition to the fact that very little information is generally available on its website, which does not include the categories of information which the Act specifically requires it to proactively publish to the public through this very important medium.

MRA also accused the NTA of failing to comply with its statutory reporting obligations, observing that since 2011, when the FOI Act came into force, the organization has consistently neglected to submit its annual reports to the Attorney General of the Federation as stipulated by section 29(5) of the FOI Act and the Guidelines on the Implementation of the FOI Act issued by the Attorney General of the Federation.

It observed that the situation was ironic as the NTA ought to be tenaciously reporting on public institutions that were failing to carry out their obligations under the Act, including regular submission of reports, proactively disclosing the information so required, among others.

The organization noted that the NTA’s failure to summit its annual report to the Attorney General of the Federation makes it virtually impossible to determine the number of applications for access to information that the organization receives each year and the number of such applications that it processed and granted.

MRA said there was no indication that the NTA has provided appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information held by it as well as on the effective implementation of the Act as required by section 13 of the Act.

It added that the NTA does not appear to have designated any officer to be in charge of receiving FOI requests from the public as the title and address of such an officer is not published anywhere as the FOI Act requires all public institutions to do.

Mrs. Olanrewaju said: “The NTA being a media organization with the mandate of a public service broadcaster, it ought to routinely facilitate transparency and accountability in all ramifications while also serving as a bridge between the Government and citizens.  Serving the public interest should be paramount in all its activities and operations, rather than operating in secrecy and choosing to disrespect the provisions of the FOI Act.”

MRA launched the “FOI Hall of Shame” on July 3, 2017 to draw attention to public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 through their actions, inactions, utterances and decisions.

Three Journalists Wounded in Suicide Bomb Attack in Central Somalia

Felicia Anthonio
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0

This statement was originally published on nusog.org on September 11, 2017.

Three local journalists were caught up yesterday, Sunday 10 September 2017, in a suicide bombing in Beledweyne town of Hiran region in Central Somalia, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has said.

Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan who works for Saab TV, Abdulkadir Omar Ibrahim of RTN TV and Simba Radio as well as Abdullahi Osman Moallim of Jubaland TV were wounded in this suicide attack at Siligga restaurant at the entrance of headquarters of Hiran regional administration. Due to seriousness of his wounds, Abdullahi Osman Moallim was today evacuated to Mogadishu for urgent treatment.

“The blast killed at least 6 people and injured more than 15 wounded after a suicide bomber blew up in the restaurant when his belt and vest exploded” Osman Adan Areys, Vice President of Supreme Council of NUSOJ visited wounded journalists at the Beledweyne hospital.

“We deplore these casualties caused by this brutal suicide bombing and encourage journalists in Beledweyne to take all the necessary precautions to carry out their duties in the safest environment”, said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

The restaurant is a place where journalists who are looking for news frequently go. Al-Shabaab extremists group immediately claimed responsibility of this savage attack.

Photo Journalist Attacked in Nigeria

Felicia Anthonio
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0

This statement was originally published onon September 5, 2017.

A Benin-based freelance photo journalists, Mr. Lucky Agie, was on Monday night attacked by suspected armed robbers, on his way home from work.

According to ‘The News’ which broke the story on Tuesday September 5, 2017, Mr Agie was attacked when he boarded a taxi along Akpakpava Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital, and was beaten and thrown out of the vehicle into a valley, after being dispossessed of his belongings including his camera worth over N400,000, ATM card, identity cards and cash.
He was however rescued by a good Nigerian and taken to a private hospital, where he is currently recuperating.

Agie who recently retired from Edo State-owned Nigerian Observer newspaper, is reeling in pains on his hospital bed and is heavily bandaged on his right eye and stitched head with a swollen face.

He narated his ordeal to journalists at the private hospital: “I watched the first half of the Cameroun-Nigeria football match at the NUJ Press Centre and wanted to go home. I tried to start my car, but it could not, even after colleagues helped me to push.

“I now decided to go by public transport and I was dropped off at Akpakpava where I entered a taxi [can], an Audi 80 painted in the State colours. Some passengers were inside, including a lady and that gave me the courage to enter because I am always wary, not knowing that the lady was part of the gang.

“I told him I was going to Ewa Road junction. I immediately paid the driver when I entered and he said he doesn’t have change. One of the passengers behind gave him N100 and he added N50 which he gave to me as my change.

“Just by Second Junction, near Total Filling Station, one of the passengers alighted and another entered who now sat with me in the front seat and immediately the driver drove off, they started beating me and hitting me with objects that injured my head and my eyes. They even tried to strangulate me with my shirt which they tore.

“They took my D-90 camera, my atm card, my NUJ ID card, my official ID card and everything I had on me. They asked my atm pin which I gave them but they continued beating me and said they were going to throw me into the Ikpobha River.

“They continued beating me and I was losing strength and blood until they got to Ikkpobha Hill after the bridge, where I was pushed into the valley and continued beating me and then left me almost unconscious as I faintly heard one of them saying let’s finish him.

“After they drove off, I was able to struggle out of the valley and tried to waive passersby  until a good Nigerian came and took me in his taxi to this hospital.

“I was only able to remember my elder brother’s number who is based in Abuja. I called him and he reached my people in Benin who came to me,” Agie narrated. He added that he has instructed his younger brother to report the case to the police station.

The alarming level of insecurity in Edo State has continued to create worries for the people of the State.

The Chairman of Edo State Council of NUJ, Sir Roland Osakue, who led members of the Council to visit their colleague at the hospital, called on security agencies to check the spate of robberies and killings in the State, adding that attacks on journalists is becoming alarming.

It would be recalled that just few weeks ago, a journalist with NTA in Benin, Lawrence Okojie, was shot dead by gunmen, few metres from his house, after close of work.

Also, many journalists have been robbed and some escaped by the whiskers, in various parts of the State capital, like Ekenwan Road, Airport Road, Oluku and others areas.

MRA Names Customs into its FOI ‘Hall of Shame’ for Non-Compliance with the FOI Act

Felicia Anthonio
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0

This statement was originally published on mediarightsagenda.net on September 5, 2017.

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today named the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) into its Freedom of Information (FOI) Hall of Shame, saying its long-held reputation as one of the most corrupt government institutions in Nigeria has only been worsened by its refusal to comply with the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

Announcing the selection of the NCS as this week’s inductee into the Hall of Shame, MRA’s Director of Programmes, Mr. Ayode Longe, noted that since the passage of the FOI Act over six years ago, the Customs had failed to comply with virtually all its duties and obligations under the Law, thereby undermining its effectiveness.

Mr. Longe said: “It is our respectful view that an agency like the NCS, which collects huge sums of money in import and excise duties as well as other taxes and levies from Nigerians, should have no discretion on whether to be transparent and accountable in all its operations.  The duty to be transparent and accountable flows naturally from the nature of the institution and its functions.  When this duty is further imposed by Law, as the FOI Act does, any breach of that duty should be viewed with seriousness and visited with harsh sanctions.”

According to him, “It is a viable proposition that a government agency which is persistently in flagrant violation of its duty to be transparent and accountable to citizens has no right to expect the same citizens to fulfill their duties to the institution and robs itself of the legal or moral authority to enforce compliance on the citizens while it is in continued breach of its own duties to them. Such an institution, in this case, the Nigeria Customs Service, is only sowing the seeds of anarchy which will ultimately lead to its demise in the event of a citizens’ revolt.”

Justifying the choice of the NCS for induction into the FOI Hall of Shame, MRA noted that by virtue of Section 2 of the FOI Act, the agency, like every other public institution to which the Act applies, is required to proactively disclose certain types of information even in the absence of specific requests for the information from the public and to continually update and review such information periodically and immediately whenever changes occur.

It accused the NCS of shying away from complying with this statutory obligation, which is one of the most efficient ways of providing information to citizens, of being transparent and accountable for the revenues it collects as well as in its entire operations.

MRA also observed  that Section 29 of the Act places an obligation on the Customs, like other public institutions, to submit an annual FOI implementation report to the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that since the Act was passed into Law till date, the NCS has not submitted any FOI implementation report to the Attorney-General of the Federation.

It also accused the NCS of failing to comply with Section 2(3) (f) of the Act which requires the agency to designate an appropriate officer to whom applications for information under the Act should be sent and to proactively publish the title and address of the officer.

According to the civil society organization, despite the provisions of Section 13 of the Law, there is no indication that the NCS has provided the required training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information at any time in the last six years.

MRA said it was also unable to determine how responsive the NCS has been to requests for information from members of the public because of its failure to submit its annual reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation, which would have provided the relevant information about the number of applications for information that it has received annually over the last six years and the number of such applications that it processed and granted or refused, alongside other details that it is required by the Act to provide in its report to the Federal Attorney-General.

Citing reports indicating high levels of corruption in the NCS, especially alleged corrupt transactions at seaports, airports and land borders, Mr. Longe  argued that the FOI Act is a tool that facilitates openness and transparency in government, adding: “The openness and transparency that Nigeria desires as a country can only be realized through the effective implementation of the FOI Act and total compliance with its provisions, which in turn can help to check the high level of bribery and corruption prevalent in an agency like the Nigeria Customs Service.”

According to him, a National Corruption Survey report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently indicates that Customs officers are among Nigeria’s top bribe takers.

Mr. Longe argued that this should be a source of concern to the authorities within the Customs and the Nigerian Government in general, noting that rather than make every effort to redress its tarnished image and reputation, the management of the NCS are worsening the situation by their deliberate refusal to obey the Laws of the Land, particularly the FOI Act.

He said: “despite the pledge by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammeed Ali (Rtd), upon assumption of office that the agency will not compromise on corruption and indiscipline among the officers corps, the ailment called corruption remains ubiquitous in the Customs.”

Media Rights Agenda launched the Freedom of Information Hall of Shame on July 3 to draw attention to public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the Freedom of information Act, 2011 through their actions or inactions, decisions or utterances.

Media Rights Group in South Sudan Condemns Killing of US Freelance Journalist, Pays Tribute to Family

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Media Rights Group in South Sudan Condemns Killing of US Freelance Journalist, Pays Tribute to Family

This statement was originally published by amdiss on August 29, 2017.

The Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) would like to extend its profound condolence to the family of the slain freelance journalist Christopher Allen who died in Kaya South Sudan on August 26th 2017 while doing his journalistic work reporting for the events of the fighting between South Sudan government forces and the opposition that unfolded in the South Sudan – Uganda border.

Christopher Allen, a US citizen has been known in record for reporting as a freelance journalist for international media including The Independent newspaper, The Telegraph and the Qatar-based Aljazeera.

AMDISS the killing of journalists and hereby advices media houses and journalists working in South Sudan to stay safe while carrying out their duties.

##END##

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AMDISS is a member based organization of the local media in South Sudan, formed in 2003 to work towards promoting an enabling environment for media development in South Sudan through advocacy at different levels of government and dialogue with government ministries, departments, including security agencies and providing media training to enhance the quality of reporting and professionalism in the industry and in South Sudan.

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