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Niger authorities crack down on critical journalists
NEW YORK – The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by recent detentions in Niger of journalists critical of the government. In the past week, four journalists have been held for days without charge, two of whom remain in custody, and the justice minister has warned of a crackdown.
Judicial police in the capital Niamey have since Monday detained Ousmane Dambadji, editor of L’Union, and TV presenter Zakari Abdou of independent broadcaster Canal 3 over commentary aired during a January program on Canal 3, according to local journalists and news reports. Details of commentary were not immediately available.
On January 23, judicial police detained Soumana Idrissa Maïga, editor of the independent daily l’Enquêteur, on accusations of threatening national security over a January 17 column in his newspaper in which a writer speculated that the ruling party’s days in power were numbered, according to local news reports.
On January 25, Abdoulaye Mamane, presenter of a Hausa-language talk show on Radio Télévision Bonferey, was detained after a guest on his January 16 program accused the president of corruption, according to local news reports. The guest was also detained.
A magistrate on Monday ordered the release without charge of Maïga and Mamane, according to the reports and local journalists.
“Since the democratic transition of 2009, Niger’s leadership has often been cited as an example for its respect of press freedom, but the government’s crackdown on critical journalists threatens to roll back the country’s democratic progress,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “We call on Nigerien authorities to release the journalists still in custody and respect its own laws pertaining to the media.”
Niger’s 2010 press law bans pretrial detentions of journalists for offenses related to their work, according to CPJ research. In November 2011, Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou became the first African head of state to endorse the Declaration of Table Mountain, which calls for the repeal of criminal defamation and insult laws throughout Africa.
In an interview with The Associated Press today, Justice Minister Marou Amadou accused the four journalists of issuing false accusations and “appeals to hatred and violence.” Last week, in a press conference, Amadou had warned that the government would crack down on critical coverage. “Calls to ethnic hatred, insurrection or a coup, we have heard [them] in media outlets,” Radio France Internationale quoted him as saying. He mentioned “youth threatening to go dislodge turn by turn the prime minister and the president of the republic, in an insurrectional style,” and likened this to the Arab Spring. Amadou acknowledged the president’s signing of the Table Mountain Declaration and the decriminalization of press offenses, but said that challenging the democratic framework or calling for destabilization of the country are offenses punishable by the criminal code.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has alerted motorists to traffic delays along Ogunnusi Road towards Ojodu-Berger due to ongoing rehabilitation work.
LASTMA disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Sunday, stating that the road rehabilitation was being carried out by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC).
According to the agency, “The ongoing work is affecting traffic flow, with vehicles moving at a slower pace in both directions.”
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To ease the situation, LASTMA said a contraflow arrangement had been introduced for motorists travelling from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction.
“A contraflow arrangement is in place for vehicles coming from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction to facilitate the movement of traffic,” the agency stated.
LASTMA added that its personnel had been deployed to manage traffic and ensure the continuous movement of vehicles around the affected area.
“Our personnel are on ground managing the traffic situation and ensuring the continuous flow of vehicular movement,” the agency said.
The traffic management authority advised motorists to remain patient and exercise caution while the rehabilitation work continues.
“Motorists are advised to exercise patience and drive with caution while the rehabilitation work continues,” LASTMA stated.
Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.
The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.
They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.
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Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.
He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.
Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.
In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.
He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.
Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.
Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has released what he described as his first piece of evidence after the Nigeria Police Force challenged him to substantiate his allegations that some police officers allegedly collaborate with kidnappers.
VDM released a video on his Instagram handle on Thursday, August 27, 2026, shortly after the police invited him to provide evidence supporting the claims he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.
SEE MORE: ‘Provide Evidence’ — Police React to VDM’s Explosive Kidnap Allegation
The activist captioned the video: “My evidence number 1.”
Recalled that VDM, who was a panellist at the NBA conference on Tuesday, had alleged that some police officers manning checkpoints along major highways provide kidnappers and bandits with information about travellers.
According to him, the officers allegedly relay details about the identities and movements of travellers to criminal groups, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom.
The allegation triggered a response from the Nigeria Police Force, which denied the claim and challenged VDM to substantiate his allegations.
The police invitation came as the force sought evidence to support the serious claims made by the social media critic.
In response, VDM released the video, describing it as his “evidence number 1”, signalling that he may provide further material to support his allegations.
The development has continued to attract attention, with the controversy placing renewed focus on allegations of possible collaboration between security personnel and criminal groups involved in kidnapping and banditry.
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