MEDIA IN NIGERIA #02 - 42 (03
November, 2003)

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MEDIA IN NIGERIA is a weekly publication on
developments within and
affecting the media/communication/freedom of
expression sector in Nigeria.

It is an initiative of the Institute for Media and
Society (IMS), a non-profit,
non-governmental organization based in Lagos, Nigeria.
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NEWS

MEDIA-GENERAL
-SSS BOSS PLEADS FOR MEDIA COOPERATION
-OBASANJO DENIES CLAMP DOWN ON MEDIA, PLEADS FOR
UNDERSTANDING

PRINT MEDIA
-BRUTALIZED PHOTO/JOURNALIST GETS COMPENSATION
FROM ATIKU
-SKETCH MAY RETURN SOON
-THISDAY NAMES EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
-THISDAY REPORTER ALLEGES THREAT TO HIS LIFE

INFOTECH
-SHAREHOLDERS ASK COURT TO DISMISS ECONET
INTERNATIONAL'S SUIT
-NCC ORDERS 50 PERCENT CUT ON GSM INTERNATIONAL
TARIFFS
-NCC ORDERS MTN TO INTERCONNECT WITH COMPETITORS

THE ARTS
-SECOND NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL POSTPONED
-ARTISTES DIFFER ON PLAN TO HAND OVER NATIONAL THEATRE

MEDIA-GENERAL

SSS BOSS PLEADS FOR MEDIA COOPERATION

The need for cooperation and exchange of information
between journalists and operatives of the State
Security Service (SSS) for the overall peace of the
nation has been stressed.

Adegoroye Olateru - Olagbegi, Edo State Director of
SSS, who made the appeal at an interactive session
with journalists in Benin-city, the state capital,
advised the press to drop its stereotyping of the SSS
as a tool of dictatorship.

He said the forum was aimed at correcting public
misperception of the work of the agency, and promised
to facilitate the access of journalists to
information.

In a similar development, the Presidential Task force
on the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government
Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for December, has warned
security men against attacking journalists throughout
the duration of the meeting. The Task Force media
co-ordinator, Olusegun Runsewe, who issued the warning
at a seminar for journalists, said the government will
not tolerate "anything that will rubbish the image of
the country before the august visitors." Over 600
local and foreign journalists are expected to cover
the meeting. Delegates from 54 countries are expected
to attend the meeting scheduled for Abuja, the capital
of Nigeria.

OBASANJO DENIES CLAMP DOWN ON MEDIA, PLEADS FOR
UNDERSTANDING

Contrary to recent media reports of an all-out
offensive against select media organizations,
President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied barning any
newspaper from covering activities at the Presidential
villa, Abuja. The denial is sequel to reports that
the Presidency had barred three national newspapers;
The Tribune, The Monitor and New Age from the State
House, following the refusal of the authorities to
renew their accreditation. A month ago, the
accredition of Cyril Mbah, a correspondent of The
Monitor Newspaper was similarly withdrawn and the
reporter banished from the villa over reports that
were critical of the presidency.

But in a statement last week, the Senior Special
Assistant (media and publicity) to the President, Remi
Oyo, denied that The Tribune and New Age
correspondents were barned from Aso Rock. According
to her, what happened was that Yemi Giwa, the
correspondent of The Tribune at the villa was denied
accreditation for failing to meet some undisclosed
standards. She claims that his employers were duly
notified of this development and requested to name a
replacement. She also revealed that the correspondent
of The monitor whose accreditation was withdrawn over
similar charges has already been replaced while the
correspondent of the New Age and The photographer of
The Tribune are performing their lawful duties at the
villa without any harassment.

What is however not clear to observers was the
"standards" the Presidency had set for accrediting
journalist to practice their profession in the
corridors of power. Though some analysts perceive the
purported banning of the journalists as the
manifestation of a creeping civilian dictatorship,
Obansanjo has maintained that his administration was
not adverse to criticisms. He, however, pleaded with
critics of his policies and programmes to be
constructive.

Receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Guild of
Editors (NGE) who visited him at the State House, the
president pleaded with the media to drop its
confrontational posture to the administration, adding
that as joint stakeholders, it should not be seen to
be working at cross purposes with the government. He
said the press should allow national interest to
influence their news judgement.

PRINT MEDIA

BRUTALIZED PHOTO/JOURNALIST GETS COMPENSATION FROM
ATIKU

A photo/journalist with Daily Independent newspaper,
Akintunde Akinleye who was brutalized by security
details of Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the
coronation of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has
been compensated.

The sum of $1,900 and another N56,000 was handed over
to Akinleye, last week on behalf of Atiku by his
Special Assistant (Media), Garba Shehu. The $1,900
was for the replacement of Akinleye's damaged digital
camera while N56,287 was for the cost of his
treatment.

Shehu said the Vice President regretted the ugly
incident, adding that steps are being taken to prevent
a reoccurrence.

SKETCH MAY RETURN SOON

The Daily Sketch which was rested nearly three years
ago, may soon return to the news-stands.

Governors of the five owner-states last week in
Abeokuta, Ogun State, resolved to revive the newspaper
as soon as practicable.

To this end, the management of the Odua Group of
Companies, an investment body also owned by the five
state governments, has been mandated to prepare a
blue-print on how to restructure the newspaper
company.

The governors who predicated their desire to revive
the outfit on the need for a common voice for the
Yoruba nation also expressed willingness to pay the
salaries and other entitlements of the 400 workers of
the company.

THISDAY NAMES EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

A 16 member Editorial Advisory Board has been
appointed for THISDAY Newspapers. The Board is headed
by veteran journalist, Haroun Adamu while Ayo Teriba,
Chief economist and Head of THISDAY Economic
Intelligence Group (EIG) is the Deputy Chairman.

Other members of the Board include Godwin Agbroko,
Editorial Page Editor; former Senate President, Ayim
Pius Anyim; President of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), J.K. Randle, former
Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Wada
Maida; Lagos Lawyer, Femi Falana; and Company
Secretary/Legal Adviser of UBA, Isabella Okagbue.

Also on board are Hameed Kusamotu, a former chairman
of defunct National Republican Convention (NRC); and
renowned journalists, Nduka Irabor and Innocent
Oparadike.

THISDAY REPORTER ALLEGES THREAT TO HIS LIFE

The Anambra State correspondent of THISDAY newspaper,
Charles Onyekamuo, has accused officials of Anambra
State Government of threatening his life. In separate
petitions to the state command of the Nigeria Police
and the state council of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Onyekamuo recounted his encounter
with some officials of the state government who
allegedly threatened to deal with him over a recent
report in THIS Day newspaper.

Following the publication titled, "Anambra Guber
Election Results Forged", Onyekamuo said he was
summoned to the office of Bene Nwachukwu, Special
Assistant (Special Duties) to Governor Chris Ngige
where he was interrogated by the trio of Nwachukwu,
Fred Chukwuelobe (Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor on Media and Publicity) and an unnamed
Senator).

The reporter said he was told that the governor was
worried by his report, and the trio who also
pronounced him as an enemy of the government. The
unnamed senator, the reporter alleged, swore to deal
with him (Onyekanuo) in his "own way".

Proceedings of the election tribunal in Awka, Anambra
State capital has been generating heat in the state
following the testimony of a forensic expert, which
placed the purported victory of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 12 governorship
election in the state, in doubt.

INFOTECH

SHAREHOLDERS ASK COURT TO DISMISS ECONET
INTERNATIONAL'S SUIT

The Legal battle initiated by Econet Wireless Limited,
of Zimbabwe (EWL) seeking to frustrate the injection
of fresh funds into its Nigerian subsidiary, Econet
Wireless Nigeria Limited (EWNL) witnessed a major
twist last week, with shareholders opposed to the
action asking the Federal High Court to dismiss the
action.

Counsel to one of respondents, Koyinsola Ajayi, argued
that EWL lacked the locus standi to initiate the
action, which he claims failed to disclose any cause
of action.

In the originating summons, EWL through its lawyer
Afred Kasunmu, sought among other reliefs: an order to
restrain the holding of an Extra Ordinary General
Meeting; to restrain the discussion of offer to buy
shares from certain parties and to restrain the
respondents from changing the management structure of
EWNL.

But Ajayi argued that the first relief could not stand
as the shareholders agreement had nothing to do with
the requisition for an EGM.

Furthermore, on the request of Econet Wireless Limited
for the restructuring of EWNL, Ajayi argued that an
investor with five percent had no say in such a
venture.

He concluded that EWL has failed to show that EWNL's
action was ultravires, neither was an allegation of
illegality proven.

The case was adjourned to November 3.

NCC ORDERS 50 PERCENT CUT ON GSM INTERNATIONAL TARIFFS

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has
ordered Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM)
operators in the country to slash their tariffs on
international call by at least 50 percent.

Ernest Ndukwe, NCC Vice Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer said in Abuja, that the directive was
necessitated by prevailing best international practice
where calls from one country to another have been
slashed by more than half.

GSM currently attracts a minimum tariff of N100 per
minute. But Ndukwe says this was no longer
acceptable. Acknowledging the fact that the
introduction of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
has changed the face of international telephony,
Ndukwe charged operators to embrace new technologies
that can make their services cheap and affordable.

In a related development, all GSM operators in the
country have agreed to introduce per second billing
system and a price cap of N36 per minute from
December, 2003.

The agreement was the high point of the recent meeting
of the senate adhoc committee on telecommunications
with the operators in the sector.

NCC ORDERS MTN TO INTERCONNECT WITH COMPETITORS

In a determined effort to resolve the interconnection
crisis bedeviling the telecommunication's sector, the
industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) has ordered MTN Communications
Limited to immediately allocate interconnection trunk
facilities otherwise called Els, to three other
telecom companies with which it has interconnection
agreement. The Companies are Intercellular Nigeria
Limited, Starcomm and Glo Mobile.

The companies petitioned NCC after MTN failed to issue
Els to them even after the necessary tests had been
conducted.

The Punch reported that Glo Mobile requested for 90
Els from MTN for its operation in selected cities
across Nigeria but MTN only obliged it with 16 Els.

Before the latest development, MTN had been accused of
providing Limited interconnection to Glo Mobile as a
gimmick to beat back competition.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has demanded an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from MTN, as
condition for approving request for expansion in the
state. Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for
Environment said the company must submit an
Environmental Assessment Report on its operations in
the state before its request for expansion can be
considered.

THE ARTS

SECOND NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL POSTPONED

The Second National Film Festival earlier scheduled to
hold in October, has been postponed. The event,
according to Francesca Emmanuel, chairman of the
Festival's Organising Committee, will now hold from
November 26 through 30.

She said the postponement was to enable "us tie all
the loose knots".

Ben Tomoloju, Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee
of the Festival, assured that the postponement would
not dramatically alter the programmes lined up for the
event except that they would be made more compact.

Among the programmes lined up for the festival which
is coming eleven years after the maiden edition, are a
carnival of dance and songs, film exhibition, National
Film Workshop and an awards night.

ARTISTES DIFFER ON PLAN TO HAND OVER NATIONAL THEATRE

President Olusegun Obasanjo may have unwittingly sowed
a seed of discord in the body of Nigerian artistes
with his indication that the Federal Government was
favourably disposed to handing over the National Arts
Theatre to a group of artistes.

While artistes such as Segun Olusola have lauded the
move as being capable of uniting the arts, others
believe that asking the Association of Nigeria Theatre
Practitioners (ANTP) to administer the monument would
further waste the edifice.

Mahmould Ali - Balogun, a film producer, says the
theatre should be run by people who are knowledgeable
in corporate management. "The mere fact that somebody
has achieved fame through film acting or other
activities of drama does not mean that he knows
anything about organisation or administration," he
said.

He also said government has a duty to subsidize the
theatre as is the trend the world over.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has
restrained two artistes, Jide Kosoko and Adebayo
Salami from raiding and collection registration fees
from video shop owners in any part of the country.
Justice Jonah Adah ruled that the duo should not usurp
the roles and duties of the National Film and Video
Censors Board.

-----ENDS----

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