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Editors Woo Tinubu to Tackle Biggest Threats” to Media Industry in Nigeria

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The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze, says that the unavailability of resource materials is one of the biggest threats to the survival of the media industry in Nigeria.

” The biggest threat to media survival today is the unavailability of resource materials to produce our papers or broadcast on our TV stations,” Eze said at the ongoing All Nigerian Editors Conference 2024, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the theme: ‘Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country.

He said: “We are here because we recognize the critical role that both a strong economy and a resilient media sector play in fostering a prosperous, informed, and democratic society.

As editors, we stand at a crossroads where our decisions, priorities, and strategies will shape the future of our country and journalism.

The truth is, there is no business right now. If the purpose of business is to make a profit, the newspaper business is dead.

” “The growth of our nation’s economy directly influences every sector, and our industry is no exception.

A strong economy fuels consumer spending, drives innovation, and creates opportunities for media organizations to expand and thrive. Yet, with these opportunities come new challenges.

The father of the day and publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka, added : “The truth is, there is no business right now. If the purpose of business is to make a profit, the newspaper business is dead. Everything, including prices, has gone up to the extent that publishing as we knew it has died.

This week, I asked a financial controller how things were going, and she said the money earned from the sale of hardcopy newspapers was only enough to pay for the transportation of the papers. That was all.”

Amuka highlighted the dramatic rise in the cost of newsprint, from N600,000 two years ago to over N2 million today.

“This means that every day we publish a hardcopy newspaper, we don’t make any money; we lose,” he said.

He called for government involvement in the media business, noting that the cost of newsprint is unsustainable, and it is crucial to support the media to continue publishing hard copies.

Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman of the conference and publisher of Thisday and Arise Television, lamented the challenges facing the media industry but expressed optimism for the future.

He said: “Nigeria is in a reset. We have reforms underway, and unlike others, I believe that the future can be better if we give these reforms a human face.

We should support the reforms, stay the course, and ensure that the poor and vulnerable are supported.

Obaigbena also spoke about global changes, particularly with the rise of Donald Trump, and urged Nigerians to prepare for these changes by first addressing internal issues.

He called for efforts to fix Nigeria and protect the country’s industries.

President Bola  Tinubu urged the media managers to engage in factual reporting and professional integrity.

He was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

He emphasized the importance of the media in national development:

“As editors and media managers, your role in national development cannot be overemphasized. You are the custodians of public perception, the gatekeepers of information, and the voice of the people.” Tinubu spoke about the transformative potential of the media in shaping public understanding and contributing to the government’s efforts to address the nation’s challenges.

He called on media professionals to report truthfully and engage constructively to help the public understand the government’s actions.

“My administration is committed to turning our challenges into opportunities by ensuring that our vast resources bring prosperity to all Nigerians.

With a united effort from government, citizens, and the media, we can build a resilient, diversified economy that offers security, opportunity, and hope for all Nigerians,” he said.

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President Tinubu returns to Lagos ahead of APC primaries tomorrow (Video)

Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at about 7:12 p.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

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• President Tinubu chats with African business leaders during the African CEO Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday arrived in Lagos after a three-nation visit to France, Kenya and Rwanda.

Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at about 7:12 p.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

A statement issued by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that the president was received by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; and other government officials.

President Tinubu, while in France, met with global investors, emphasising transparency and fiscal discipline and explaining the rationale for the swift implementation of the bold economic reforms his administration has instituted.

Watch Video below:

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Anxiety as chemical pollution affects 6 Ogun schools, 90 students

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Triggers Widespread Panic One Month After Similar Incident

More than 90 students across several secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode were hospitalised on Friday after a suspected chemical odour permeated the town, sparking panic among parents and residents.

Ohibaba.com learned that the pollution was caused by gas leak along the Agoro/Okunowa Road axis of Ijebu-Ode; the situation is now under control by the state environmental monitoring agency, and poses no further danger.

The incident occurred barely one month after a similar chemical odour episode at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School left several students hospitalised.

Eyewitnesses reported that a strange smell spread rapidly across parts of the ancient town, prompting parents and guardians to rush to schools to evacuate their children. Emergency responders moved over a thousand students from affected schools to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for medical attention.

Medical personnel at the hospital said many of the affected students complained of abdominal pain and related symptoms. Residents in surrounding communities and adjoining streets were also reportedly impacted by the unusual odour.

Affected schools include Our Lady of Apostles School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School, Adeola Odutola Secondary School, and St. Anthony School, Esure, in Ijebu Mushin.

As of the time of reporting, no senior government officials had arrived at the State Hospital, where anxious parents and residents gathered in large numbers.

Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, urged parents to remain calm, assuring them that medical personnel were attending to the students. He added that environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been mobilised to investigate the situation.

The General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Hon. Kehinde Bello, disclosed that an air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School recorded elevated methane gas concentrations, with peak readings of about 13,500 ppm in surrounding areas.

Bello explained that the device was deployed under the state government’s environmental surveillance programme for early detection of abnormal air quality. He noted that while the methane level remains below the lower explosive limit, it is environmentally significant and requires urgent investigation.

The Ogun State Government has since activated a multi-agency team comprising environmental regulators, emergency responders, and technical air quality experts to assess the situation.

Bello advised residents to stay calm, continue normal activities, and avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are noticed. He urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, or respiratory discomfort to seek immediate medical attention at nearby health facilities.

The government assured the public of its commitment to protecting lives and public health, promising further updates as investigations progress.

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JUST IN: Dangote files new lawsuit against FGN over fuel import licences

The new filing asks the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing they breach an earlier order to maintain the status quo.

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a new lawsuit against Nigeria’s attorney general in a bid to overturn fuel import licences issued to ‌marketers and the NNPC state oil firm.

Reuters reported that the new filing asks the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing they breach an earlier order to maintain the status quo.

The case signals renewed tensions almost a year after Dangote withdrew an earlier lawsuit challenging similar licences.

That case sought to nullify import permits issued to the Nigerian ⁠National Petroleum Company and several traders.

NMDPRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Regulators and marketers have previously argued imports are needed to ‌ensure ⁠adequate supply and prevent shortages.

Dangote said in the filing that the licences issued this month undermine its operations and contravene the law, which it argues allows imports only when domestic supply falls short.

Dangote ⁠ended the earlier lawsuit in July 2025 without explanation, leaving unresolved questions over competition and supply in one of Africa’s largest fuel markets.

Nigeria ⁠has long relied on petrol imports due to underperforming state refineries. Dangote’s $20 billion facility, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels ⁠per day, was billed to end that dependence, but imports have continued to cover supply gaps as the refinery ramps up output.

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