NIGERIA MEDIA MONITOR
#03-08 MONDAY, February 23, 1998.
* JOURNALIST ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGED COUP PLOTTING * ARMY WARNS JOURNALISTS AGAIN * DETAINED JOURNALIST GRANTED BAIL * JOURNALISTS CRY OUT OVER UNPAID SALARIES * EU DEMANDS RELEASE OF DETAINEES * JAILED JOURNALIST WINS UNESCO PRIZE * POLICY ON TELECOM SECTOR DEREGULATION OUT * MORE TELECOM FIRMS BEGIN OPERATION * NEW WAVE OF INTEGRATED GLOBAL MEDIA: WHAT DOES IT POR TEND? NEWSREEL JOURNALIST ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGED COUP Niran Malaolu, editor of 'The Diet' Newspaper, is to face trial for allegedly plotting a coup. On 14 February 1998, Malaolu was among 27 suspects listed and paraded at the inaugural sitting of the Special Military Tribunal (SMT), which is trying persons accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot which the military government claims to have uncovered in December 1997. Malaolu was arrested by security operatives, along with three of his colleagues at The Diet on 28 December 1997. The other three were later released. The military authorities have given no details regarding Malaolu's offence. Although "The Diet", like other newspapers, had carried stories on the alleged coup, there has been nothing spectacular about its stories. While Malaolu remained in detention, at The Diet said the paper's management kept getting assurances from military authorities that he was not being held in connection with the newspaper's stories on the coup, although they refused to say why he was being held. Before the Special Military Tribunal (SMT) event of 14 February, a military spokesman had said, that no journalist was on the list of those to be tried for involvement in the alleged coup. Malaolu, like the 26 others, was brought to the venue of the trial handcuffed. If declared guilty, Malaolu may receive a death sentence, which is usually carried out by firing squad. Malaolu's case is not the first in Nigeria. Four journalists are currently serving a 15-year imprisonment for being "accessories after the fact of treason" in the alleged coup of 1995. They are Kunle Ajibade (The News), Chris Anyanwu (The Sunday Magazine (TSM)), Ben Charles Obi (Classique) and George Mba (Tell). ARMY WARNS JOURNALISTS AGAIN Military authorities have again warned journalists to be careful in reporting issues of the alleged coup plot and the proceedings of the Special Military Tribunal (SMT) trying the suspects in Jos, Plateau State. The Acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Col. Godwin Ugbo, told reporters in Lagos 17 February that the SMT, as a properly constituted court, is vested with power to subpoena anybody. He said "the press should be careful about what they write and ensure that they don't insinuate- Write only what you know and confirmed by the authorities. If you write out of context, the law of accessory is there and the tribunal may invite you to say what you know about the matter". A journalist, Niran Malaolu, editor of The Diet, a Lagos-based daily, has already been arraigned before the SMT. He was arrested some days after the army issued its first warning to journalists in December 1997. The "law of accessory' to which Col. Ugbo referred in his statement was used to jail 4 journalists in 1995. They were accused of being "accessories after the fact of treason" THE NEWS MAN WINS ROUND 1 The detained correspondent of TheNEWS, TEMPO and P.M.News in Jalingo, Taraba State, Ben. Adaji has won the first round in his battle to breathe air of freedom. A court granted the bail applications filed by his lawyer, Mr. Yusuf Akirikwea. The detained journalist had earlier prayed the court to declare his arrest and subsequent detention by the state commissioner of police illegal and unconstitutional and order his immediate and unconditional release. Adaji was rearrested after he was first detained, on new year's eve. He insists he and Mr. Adaji is being persecuted by the state police boss over a publication concerning two warring communities - Chambas and Kutebs in Takum LG, a story which was written by another journalist, Mr. Hassan Abubakar. Adaji was earlier reported to have been moved out of the first detention camp to an unknown place on the orders of the police commissioner, as he (the police commissioner) was said to have been uncomfortable with the fact that Adaji's lawyer and relatives were having access to him. JOURNALIST COLLAPSES IN DETENTION The Defence Correspondent of The News/TEMPO/PM News, Tokunbo Fakeye, collapsed in military detention on 18 February 1998. He was rushed to the military hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he received treatment for 3 days. He was discharged and returned to detention on 20 February 1998. He was arrested on 4 November 1997 while on duty at Army Headquarters in Lagos and detained in the dreaded military detention camp on Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos. His paper's administration manager, Rafiu Salau, who went to enquire about his welfare at the camp, was also arrested and detained. They were both there until this latest incident. DEMOCRAT STAFF CRY OUT OVER SALARY ARREARS Journalists with the Kaduna-based Democrat Newspaper which suspended publication early September last year, have appealed to the management of the company to settle their unpaid salaries to enable them sustain themselves and their families. In a statement signed by eight of the journalists on behalf of all editorial staff of the rested paper, they lamented that since the closure five months ago, there has been no official communication with them by the management. EU ASKS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE DETAINEES The European Union February 12 in Abuja called on the Federal Government to fulfil its promise to release immediately all political detainees. The call came three months after the Head of State, General Sani Abacha, had in his 17 November, 1997 national broadcast promise to release some political detainees, a promised that is yet to be fulfilled. European Union Unit for West Africa, led by its head, Mr.. Hans Allden, while on a working visit to the National Human Rights Commission demanded the immediate release of all political detainees, saying "the EU would welcome an immediate release of all political detainees". Mr. Allden stated that the release was a major ingredient for a fruitful democratic endeavour and for democracy to thrive in Nigeria explaining that, "there must be openness and transparency in the political system and a stout observance of human rights law". He enjoined the Federal Government to allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur scheduled to visit Nigeria access to investigate the allegation of violation of human rights in the country. JAILED JOURNALIST WINS UNESCO PRIZE The 1998 UNESCO/Guillerno Cano World Press Freedom prize has been awarded to the jailed editor-in-chief/publisher of The Sunday Magazine (TSM), Mrs Chris Anyanwu. The $25,000 prize, announced in Paris on February 16 by the UNESCO Director General Federico Mayor, is awarded yearly based on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals from all regions of the world chaired by French Journalist Claude Moisy who is the President of UNESCO's Advisorg Group for Press Freedom. In giving his committee's decision Moisy noted that "For nearly three years, Christina Anyanwu has been suffering of extremely harsh prison conditions in (Nigeria) a country where the independent press and freedom of information have almost disappeared". The award which will be presented on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day coming up on May 3 1998, joined series of award received by Chris Anyanwu since her incarceration in 1995. It will be recalled that Anyanwu was arrested and tried along with other three journalists on the charge of being accessory after the fact of treason in a coup d'etat allegedly uncovered by the Nigerian military junta in March 1995. She was consequently condemned to life imprisonment by a special military tribunal in a trial held behind close doors on July 4, 1995. Her sentence was commutted to 15 years on October 10, 1995. MORE TELECOM FIRMS BEGIN OPERATION The Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) has signed an inter-connectivity agreement with two new private telecommunication firms. They are: Bourdex Telecommunications Limited (BTL) which will operate in Aba in the Eastern part of the country and VGC Communications Limited is expected to start operation in the Victoria Island of Lagos. According to NITEL's Deputy General Manager (Public Relations), Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, Bourdex Telecommunications Limited will commence business with about 2,000 lines while VGC communication has already been linked to NITEL inter-connection complex with 1,000 lines for a start. In addition to about 700,000 telephone lines currently being provided by NITEL, the deregulation of the telecommunication subsector has witnessed the licencing of more than 26 companies to operate different type of communication services in Nigeria. In this respect, the communications Minister, Major General Partrick Aziza has opined that Nigeria's present marginal share of the world's tele-communications industry which stands at about N40 billion ($3,400 billion) may be doubled within two years. FEATURE THE NEW WAVE OF INTERGRATED GLOBAL MEDIA - WHAT DOES IT PORTEND? by Mike Ajegbo Background Communication is the most important factor regulating the pace and direction of development for all of mankind. Various media have arisen to satisfy the basic human needs of information and entertainment. Technological advancements have enabled these media to reach larger audiences as well as exercise the freedom of choice. With the advent of satellite technology, media operators and telecommunications firms now possess the capabilities of communicating and relaying broadcasts on a global basis employing multimedia and the Information Superhighway. Multimedia involves the combination of different types of media. Text pictures, animation, narration, video and music are presented as one package to the audience while Communications Media Industries such as telephone, motion picture and electronic publishing companies merge to form a communications network known as the Information Superhighway. The Information superhighway possesses the capacity to bring such services as On-line and Internet Services into the offices and homes. The Internet is a vast network of computers composed of smaller networks all over the world providing people with access to software, electronic magazines, journal articles, pictures, video clips and animations. It also enables users to exchange electronic mails, take part in discussions and obtain up-to-date news and preferred entertainment from information pages known as Websites. The Internet is essentially a loose association of networks in contrast to Commercial On-Line Services, the largest of which is Compuserve. The ultimate aim of the Information Superhighway is to provide its users with instant access to an extensive array of up-to-date materials tailored to their interests. This will, to a large extent, eliminate the need for a personal collection of video films, music CDs, newspapers, games and books since these are available through Multimedia On-line. Interactivity remains the most outstanding feature of Multimedia since it enables the users to manipulate available material with a user interface instead of merely accessing it. In this "Communication Age," the Information superhighway Services to facilitate inter-connectivity in relation to trade, politics and communications. Multimedia concerns are essentially composed of computer, television, and telecommunications companies working together to construct the Superhighway and direct the traffic flowing through it. Global communications is on the verge of being made available to an even wider global audience through the activities of such organisation as World Space that is pioneering a satellite digital radio technology that will eliminate the use of satellite dishes and enable reception of satellite signals by portable radios, Global Mobile Personal Communications Services (GMPC) which is involved in the provision of telephone, fax, data and voice signals plans, the provision of Broad-band multimedia connectivity in a few years time. A major constraint to the Multimedia experience on a global basis is that every home/office will need a high capacity fibre optic cable to link up with networks of even high capacity fibres optic cables... The African Position Integrated Global Media as typified by the Internet is available in a varying degrees from full Internet Connectivity to Dial-up Access. Currently, about 36 African nations have full Live Internet Connectivity including Egypt, Tunisia, Malawi and South Africa. There are certain Network Development Projects sponsored mainly by International donor agencies. The World Bank is presently working with African Non-government Organisations through its knowledge Centre for Africa and Africa Internet Forum to introduce the Internet throughout the continent. Countries targeted for help include Malawi, Ghana Senegal and Mozambique. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Leland Initiative has an objective of getting the Internet to as many sub-Sahara Africans as possible. Under this initiative, 20 African countries are to be linked to the Internet. Projects such as the Fidonet established in 1984 to handle electronic mail using Public Switched Telephone Networks involving 26 countries, Pan- Africans Documentation Centre, Network (PADISNET) aimed at interconnecting research centres in 34 African countries and Canada are example of initiatives aimed at globalising news and information exhange. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Internet Group (Nig) is at an advanced state for the establishment of an Internet Gateway. Rascom, a regional African Satellite Communications project was initiated in 1992 to realise a satellite system that will address African needs. This project however, have not been actualised. North African countries have however, made substantial commitment to the Arab Satellite (Arabsat), which satisfy their global communications needs. Key Issues for Africa Bilateral/Multimalteral cooperations Deregulation-government monopolies Free Market Economy Investor friendly policies Manpower development Infrastructure. In all these areas, the African continent is lagging behind and unless there is a deliberate rethink and prioritisation of issues enumerated above, we would have a problem coping with advancing with the rest of the world into the next century. In terms of infrastructure - Africa has one of the lowest Telephone Density rates in the world. Few African countries have International Transmission link capabilities greater than the standard requirement. The South African Experience. The Internet is increasingly being utilised not only as educational and research tools, but as a source of up-to-date local and international news. South Africa, in addition to Egypt, have transmission capabilities far in excess of 64 kbps which is the minimum requirement for meaningful Internet Connectivity. This guarantees among other things, speed and efficiency in down-loading the required information. In addition to MNET channels that are broadcast on global satellite, the South African broadcasting Corporation (SABC), plans live broadcasts of radio and television programmes on the Internet. Competition The interesting thing about these development is that apart from MNET, Multichoice and African Music Channel all other interest and competition have come from outside Africa:- CNN/Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (US-based), Berlusconic-Italy, CFI Canal (France) International France ITN Independent Television Network-United States and the United Kingdom. Within the next eighteen (18) months, Africa's playing field will be very exciting as these communication conglomerates scramble for attention and dominance of our continent. Our Creation We cannot just fold our hands and let this happen. It is gladdening to note that a sister company (AIT), will commence satellite broadcast text transmission come October 1, 1997. We as Nigerian should be proud of this gigantic step, commend and support DAAR communications efforts. As you may have heard, I am the executive Chairman of a multidisciplinary communications company Minaj Systems Limited. On May 10 1996, Minaj system was granted a global broadcast licence by the National Broadcasting Commission. The granting of this licence immediately signified the growth of the company from one operating within the territory limits to worldwide multinational company with offices in the UK and United States. The Minaj Group commitment to integrated global media has informed the development in portfolios such as terrestrial and satellite broadcast, printing, electronic, publishing and music. Our satellite broadcast unit has commenced test transmisison since August 1997, four to five hours daily. Minaj Broadcast International (MBI) will commence 24 hour satellite transmission before the end of the year and we are down-linking to more than twenty (20) African countries. That is the first of its kind in Africa and as pioneers of the free and open channel the investment has been heavy. To stay competitive, we need support and your understanding Nigerian-based advertising agencies must support our effort. They must develop necessary capability to sell and portray us to this outside world with the attendant valued added of afrocentricity. They must develop a business environment-friendly code of conduct amongst which must be "survive and let's survive." It does not make any business for any creditor to be carrying debts over 180 days and the business is expected to grow and survive. I am glad to note that the theme of your 1997 IAA African Conference Nairobi this year is "Creating Borderless Continent - Africa's 21st century Communications Challenges." One of the challenges must be how to tackle the debt burden and remove the obstacles in the triangle of Client/Agency/Media buck-passing using Nigeria as a case study. Finally, let me restate that Africa, and particularly Nigeria, must strive to belong and be relevant to the international business community which is nowadays characterized by stiff competition and globalisation. Business and communications are increasingly being driven by (information) technology and prone to frequent but positive changes resulting in shorter product life-cycles. Mike Ajegbo, chief executive officer, Minaj, Systems presented this lecture last September, in Lagos. Source: The Post Express, February 18, 1998.
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