The Federal government has charged the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC and other foreign media operators to maintain principle of accuracy, balance and fairness as well as objectivity in their daily reportage on issues concerning Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, met with a delegation from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in his office in Abuja, where he emphasized the importance of ethical reporting in Nigeria. He stated that while the Tinubu Administration is committed to upholding freedom of the press and ensuring operators work without hindrance, the government expects media operators to report both positive and negative stories in a fair and balanced manner.
Idris expressed his commitment to every news-gathering organization, saying, "Our commitment is that we want to stay as focused and unbiased and as free as possible." He highlighted the freedom of news organizations to practice their profession without molestation or pressure from the Nigerian government.
The Minister praised the enduring trust and mutual respect between the BBC and the Nigerian audience, a relationship that has remained strong for almost six decades. He emphasized the importance of balanced reporting, noting that while Nigeria faces challenges, it is crucial for international media to provide a complete and nuanced portrayal.
Idris commended the BBC for moving its Hausa Service studio from London to Abuja, which has led to the engagement of about 200 Nigerians working for the BBC across the country. He appealed to the BBC to extend its capacity-building initiatives to private media outlets.
Earlier, the head of the BBC delegation, Mr. Jonathan Munro, expressed his delight with the BBC's reputation in Nigeria. He stated that the BBC has expanded into multimedia platforms in Nigeria, broadcasting in Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba to reach the country's diverse audiences.
Munro described Nigeria as a global power, noting that about 30 million people visit the BBC's news services in Nigeria every week, making Nigeria the third international marketing audience for the BBC after the USA and India. He was accompanied by the Head of West African Languages, Ehizojie Okharadia; Head of News Gathering for Africa, Juliet Njeri; and the Head of BBC Hausa, Aliyu Tanko.
The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control And Prevention (NCDC) Has Confirmed 39 Cases Of Mpox In 33 States And The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), With Bayelsa Leading The Pack.
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of Mpox in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Bayelsa leading the pack.
The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this information at a press briefing, emphasizing that no deaths have been recorded so far.
Idris stated that the NCDC has been closely monitoring several endemic diseases, including Mpox, which has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International and Continental Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC).
The NCDC has intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases, with all port health services across international airports, seaports, and land/foot crossing borders on high alert. Diagnostic protocols have been distributed to these locations, and port health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.
Some states have been put on high alert, including Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, and Taraba. The NCDC is also conducting contact tracing and monitoring for confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
Idris described Mpox as a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease that is endemic in several African countries, including the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. He explained that the exact reservoir of the virus is still unknown, but rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a part in transmission.
The NCDC is considering vaccination efforts for high-risk groups, as Nigeria expects to receive 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine. The Technical Working Group remains committed to providing evidence-based guidance to inform the country’s next steps in safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
To prevent the spread of Mpox, the NCDC strongly urges members of the public to adhere to proven infection prevention and control measures, such as avoiding contact with animals that could harbor the virus, practicing frequent hand washing, and reporting all cases with associated symptoms to the nearest health facility.
The NCDC has also notified public and private hospitals about the Mpox alert and is sending a list of referral isolation/treatment centers across the 6 geopolitical zones and reference laboratory networks. The agency is working to make vaccine available to the public, especially in hotspot areas, and has assured that the vaccine has a favorable safety profile.
The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, criticized the Federal Government’s distribution of palliatives, stating that it attempts to turn Nigerians into beggars and leads them to poverty. He expressed support for the Patriots’ call for a new constitution, suggesting that the parliament should reenact the 1963 constitution instead of holding a constitutional conference.
Babalola made these comments during a thank-you visit by the Prestige Sisters League to the ABUAD campus. He discussed the recent protests across the country, attributing them to genuine concerns about hunger. He emphasized that the government’s primary duty is to ensure the welfare of its people, but instead, it has failed to provide a safe environment, leading to hunger.
Babalola criticized the government’s palliative approach, arguing that it discourages people from working and feeds them instead. He believes that the government should create an enabling environment for people to work and feed themselves.
Regarding the Patriots’ call for a new constitution, Babalola agreed that it is necessary but disagreed with the need for a constitutional conference. Instead, he suggested that the parliament should reenact the 1963 constitution, which was created by all Nigerians. He cited President Tinubu’s recent decision to revert to the old National Anthem as an example of a change that can be made without a conference.
N21m Is For Running Cost, Not Salary And Allowances — Senate
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The Senate has addressed recent comments made by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, who claimed during a BBC Hausa Service interview that he earns a total of N21 million monthly salary and allowances. He also mentioned that each senator receives N21 million monthly as a running cost due to a recent increase. However, Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), said that the running costs are distinct from the salaries and personal allowances set by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Bello, had said that each senator’s monthly salary and allowances total N1,063,860. Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate committee on public affairs, said that running costs are not exclusive to the legislature and are necessary for the operational expenses of all governmental bodies. He stressed that the funds are accounted for and used solely for official purposes, requiring proof of genuine expenditure. Adaramodu said: “This is not a personal allowance or salary for the legislator. These funds also support the staff of constituency offices.” The Senate spokesperson expressed discontent with the portrayal of excessive spending in Parliament, asserting that the Nigerian Senate comprises highly accomplished professionals motivated by a commitment to improving Nigeria’s political and socio-economic landscape.
In his statement, he reiterated, “For the umpteenth time, the Senate must respond to the outdated claims regarding inflated salaries and allowances attributed to senators. The RMAFC has clearly outlined the monthly take-home pay for senators.” Adaramodu further said that all government branches, including governors, ministers, and local councils, use running costs for their operations, and the National Assembly is no exception.
“The funds mentioned by Senator Sumaila are designated for the daily operations of senators’ offices, oversight activities, and community engagements, all of which are budgeted annually and properly accounted for. The National Assembly accounts for about 1% of the federal budget and has consistently adhered to this limit, even amidst financial constraints. The Senate remains committed to serving the nation with integrity and dedication, driven by a patriotic desire to revitalise Nigeria’s socio-economic fabric,” Adaramodu added.
Promising reports on inflation and retail sales this week are giving some market participants added confidence. But it isn’t all good news for the economy, as a spate of reports on manufacturing showed signs of weakness in that sector, with data pointing to slowdowns in the labor market.
Both industrial production and manufacturing capacity—measurements that track factory output —fell in July and were lower than economists expected, Federal Reserve data released Thursday showed. Additionally, monthly surveys of manufacturers conducted by the New York and Philadelphia Federal Reserve banks showed softness in the sector.
“Today brought a batch of manufacturing data that was rather grim,” wrote Wells Fargo economists Shannon Seery Grein and Tim Quinlan. “Manufacturing activity continues to flash recessionary signals, but other data, including July retail sales, suggest some portions of the economy can continue to chug along even as manufacturers face a more precarious environment.”
The manufacturing industry is often viewed as an indicator of the broader economy's health as more goods are produced when demand is high and the economy is growing. However, economists said much of the weakness in manufacturing can be attributed to the Federal Reserve's restrictive policy.
The Federal Reserve has held its influential fed funds rate at its highest level in more than two decades in an effort to discourage spending and in turn tame inflation. That's increased the cost of all kinds of borrowing, which has led to some of the main drivers of weakness in manufacturing.
For example, slagging automobile production is a key culprit in the depressed manufacturing activity. Vehicle manufacturing steeply dropped in July and is down nearly 10% over the past year. Economists blamed high interest rates on auto loans for the decline.
“Because consumers are aware that interest rates are set to decline in the near future, they may be holding off on making the big-ticket purchases that typically involve credit,” wrote Moody’s analyst Matt Colyar.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to ease interest rates at its upcoming September meeting, which economists have long said could bring some relief to manufacturers.
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