Browsing: MRA

In a press statement signed  Ms Obioma Okonkwo, Head of its Legal Department, MRA said by the revocation, the NBC was prioritizing its desire to make money off the broadcasters over the interest of citizens as the ultimate effect of its action is to deprive millions of Nigerians access to information as well as their rights and ability to freely express themselves through these stations.

In a statement to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), MRA urged the Federal Government to make a commitment to protect journalists and other media workers from various forms of attacks, including online, saying such a move would signal its appreciation of the importance of the theme of this year’s WPFD, which is “Journalism Under Digital Siege”.

Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim issued the order allowing MRA to apply to the court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation to make the rules and regulations following a motion bought on behalf of MRA by its lawyer,  Bankeye Akinwale, in which the organization claimed that although Section 11 of the Anti-Torture Act mandated the Attorney-General to make rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act, he has since 2017 failed to do so.

In a letter addressed to MRA’s Executive Director, Edetaen Ojo, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said: “Your letter requesting the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a specialized team of prosecutors to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of crimes against journalists  and other media workers through the office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been received and is being processed.”

Titled “A Promise Unkept: Report on the Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 under the Buhari Administration”, the report, published in collaboration with the Africa Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) with support from the Canada-based International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), castigated the government for choosing to allow public institutions to disregard the Act with impunity, without even reprimanding them.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Communication Officer, Idowu Adewale, said the new platform “offers a faster, easy to navigate, user-friendly experience as well as search engine optimization, which also enhances the visibility, and therefore, accessibility of the website to internet users in search of information online that is relevant to our work.”