News
FG Cracking Down on Journalists Citing “National Security” – IJNet

Nigeria is cracking down on journalists and media workers under the guise of national security, International Journalists Network (IJNet), has reported.
According IJNet, which delivers the latest on global media innovation, news apps and tools, training opportunities and expert advice for professional and emerging journalists worldwide, state authorities have detained journalists and held them for questioning.
It also said that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the country’s broadcast industry regulator, has fined and banned outlets.
IJNet said that in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Nigeria 112 out of 180 countries, listing the country among the most challenging for journalists in West Africa.
In August, no fewer than 56 journalists were harassed and attacked during anti-government protests, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“As a journalist practicing in Nigeria, I can confidently say that the environment is far from conducive for journalists to fully exercise their press freedom,” said Kelechi Ekeledo, a reporter at the private broadcaster, Africa Independent Television.
Incidents
In 2022, after airing a documentary about attacks by armed bandits in northwest Nigeria, Trust TV was fined 5 million naira (about US$3,000) by NBC.
The industry regulator said the documentary glorified the activities of bandits and undermined national security.
In a statement, Trust TV said that the documentary was in the public interest as it provided insights into the “intersection of injustice, ethnicity and bad governance as drivers of the conflict,” and its consequences for citizens .
That same year the government also threatened to sanction the BBC for airing a documentary about bandit warlords.
The NBC stated again that the documentary “glorified” the activities of bandits and undermined national security.
In May 2024, Nigerian police arrested Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, after he reported on a government official’s alleged financial misconduct. He spent nine days in detention.
“The average Nigerian journalist is afraid of coming in the way of security agents and agencies and most importantly, the majority of them are aware of national security concerns,” said journalist Charles Otu.
He noted that government authorities have used national security as an excuse to make it harder for journalists to carry out their reporting.
Meanwhile, the country’s cybercrime law, updated earlier this year, continues to be used as a tool to crack down on journalists critical of government policies. Among other provisions, the law stipulates imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 5 million naira (US$3,000), or both, for individuals who access data “vital to national security” from a computer without authorization.
Holding conversations and dialogues
In August, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, an investigative media nonprofit, held its monthly “Journalism & Society Conversations” which brought together stakeholders to discuss press freedom challenges, media legislation and regulatory frameworks, and the pivotal role investigative journalism plays in holding the government accountable – especially at a time when Nigerian journalists are facing harassment and detention from the government.
“Most governments hide under national security to intimidate, harass, arrest and surmount the press,” said Sarah Ayeku, a senior correspondent at a private broadcaster, TVC News.
“We’ve always seen some sort of rivalry between the government and the press.”
It’s important, Ayeku noted, that newsrooms be able to report freely without governmental interference. “We cannot always have the media and the government and the media at loggerheads which we have seen in the past months,” she said.
“When we take a look at what free press should be in a democratic, normal setting, we should be able to report freely and access information without restrictions.”
Otu noted that the media’s efforts to hold government actors to account must take into account legal realities and considerations, for their own safety and wellbeing.
“Due to the multi-dimensional roles of journalists, there’s a need for training and retraining of media practitioners to understand where their rights begin and stop, especially on issues that concern national security,” he suggested.
News
NBS May Release Rebased Figures for Nigerian Economy July 11

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) may launch its rebased Gross Domestic Product figure on July 11, according to reports by the Nation.
In economics, rebasing refers to the process of updating the base year used for calculating economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This is done to reflect changes in the structure and price levels of an economy, making the indicators more accurate and relevant to the current economic situation.
Folorunso Alesanmi, head of Public Relations, NBS, deferred his response to today (Monday) when asked to confirm the information.
In a terse text message reply to our inquiry, he said “I will reply you on Monday when I get the final information about it.”
Recall that the country changed the year of its GDP from 1990 to 2010 in 2014, when the figure was raised by 89 per cent.
The much awaited July 11 figure is expected to increase economic indicators such as per capita income, debt-to-GDP ratio and tax revenue outlooks.
News
Lagos-Calabar Highway Gets $100M Push from ECOWAS to Drive Regional Growth

ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has committed $100 million to support the development of a key section of Nigeria’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
This funding covers a 47.7-kilometre stretch, marking Section I, Phase I of the project, which originates from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos.
Work on the highway began in March 2024, with Hitech Construction Company Limited appointed as the main contractor.
The announcement was made during EBID’s 92nd Ordinary Session held in Lagos, where the bank outlined a series of development financing commitments amounting to €174 million and $125 million, targeted at infrastructure and social development across the ECOWAS region.
The investment in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to boost intra-regional connectivity by linking nine Nigerian states. It will also enhance access to strategic seaports, support agro-industrial development, and improve logistical networks along Nigeria’s southern corridor. The highway is further expected to contribute to the formation of a regional supply chain, economically empowering coastal communities.
“The bank also approved $100 million in funding for the Lagos-Calabar coastal motorway project in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It said that this project, which spans 47.7 km, would link nine Nigerian states and improve access to seaports and isolated agro-industrial areas. EBID noted that the funding would also contribute to the emergence of a regional value chain to support coastal communities.”
Other EBID-backed initiatives include €50 million earmarked for the establishment and outfitting of six technical and vocational education centres in Togo. These centres aim to provide skills training for up to 3,480 youths annually, focusing on high-demand trades.
In Guinea, the bank allocated €28.9 million to revamp four agricultural high schools, and an additional €95.16 million to build three hydroelectric micro-power plants with a combined generation capacity of 30 megawatts, aiming to expand rural access to renewable energy.
Côte d’Ivoire will benefit from a $25 million facility directed at financing clinker imports by Société de Ciment de Côte d’Ivoire—a move expected to support local cement manufacturing and alleviate raw material shortages in the construction sector.
EBID noted that its latest funding initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 9, which advocates for advancements in industry, innovation, and infrastructure. With these latest disbursements, the bank’s cumulative investment across the West African region has surpassed the $5 billion milestone.
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently disclosed that the Federal Government has signed off on contracts exceeding N3 trillion for multiple sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, extending through Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
The Lagos segment—Section I—was awarded at N1.068 trillion, with 30 percent of the contract sum already paid.
Section II, which includes multiple bridges and traverses difficult terrain en route to the Dangote Refinery, has been contracted at N1.6 trillion.
Sections III A and III B, covering parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, were jointly valued at N1.33 trillion.
President Bola Tinubu officially inaugurated the first completed segment of the coastal highway in May 2025, signalling the project’s steady progress.
News
LG Launches “Radio Optimism” Campaign to Spread “Life’s Good” Through Music

LG Electronics has launched a new brand campaign, “Radio Optimism,” designed to help strengthen meaningful human connections and spread optimism through shared musical experiences.
This initiative aligns with LG’s brand promise, “Life’s Good,” and addresses the growing challenge of forming genuine relationships in a technology-driven world.
The Radio Optimism campaign seeks to counteract the disconnection often felt in an era dominated by superficial interactions, such as likes and comments on social media. By harnessing the power of music, LG aims to foster deeper bonds among individuals, promoting a more fulfilling life.
“As technology advances, meaningful human connections become increasingly vital to enrich our lives. LG continues its commitment to bringing optimism into customers’ daily lives, staying true to our enduring brand promise of ‘Life’s Good,’” said Kim Hyo-eun, head of LG’s Brand Management Division.
This campaign reinforces LG’s commitment to creating enriching experiences in digital spaces where today’s consumers spend significant time. Building on this mission, LG has continuously engaged with younger audiences through participatory campaigns that bring the Life’s Good philosophy to life.
Last year’s “Optimism your feed” campaign leveraged social algorithms to foster positivity on social media. This new initiative specifically seeks to address the paradoxical disconnection in an era of hyper-connectivity.
“One of the most reliable predictors of happiness is having deep and meaningful relationships,” said Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University. “Yet today, many people are spending more time online and less time connecting in person. Social media in particular tends to create shallow relationships rather than the deep connections people need.
“It’s common for people to have hundreds of followers but no one to talk to in real life if they need support. We need to build more meaningful connections with those around us. That might turn around the pronounced decline in happiness that’s occurred over the last decade.”
A new global study* from LG on social connection reveals that 68 percent of people find it harder to make real friends, and a third reported having one or fewer meaningful connections in the past month, with 8 percent experiencing none at all.
Inspired by traditional radio’s unique way of connecting people through music and storytelling, the Radio Optimism campaign transforms this concept into an interactive platform where participants can create and send personalized songs to their loved ones.
Users can easily create new songs using AI-powered tools, which are thoroughly trained on a curated music dataset. These tools interpret user prompts to produce unique musical pieces and generate matching album art, providing an engaging and personalized experience. Once generated, these songs can be sent to recipients to deepen their connection and made available for others to discover worldwide.
According to the survey, nearly 9 in 10 respondents believe that meaningful connections lead to a more optimistic outlook on life. By providing a platform for individuals to express their feelings, this campaign aims to foster deeper connections and help individuals enrich their lives while spreading optimism in their own ways.
The campaign website is available in English and Spanish, with plans to support additional languages in the coming months to enable broader participation. The official website can be found at RadioOptimism.lg.com.
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