General News
NPO WARNS TINUBU: GLOBAL DIGITAL PLATFORMS THREATEN NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has warned that the growing dominance of global digital platforms poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy, national security and social cohesion, urging President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to News Point Nigeria, the umbrella body for Nigeria’s media industry said unregulated global digital “gatekeepers” are increasingly shaping public discourse in ways that weaken professional journalism and distort democratic processes.
According to the NPO, algorithms designed and controlled outside
Nigeria now determine what information citizens see, amplify, or ignore, creating what it describes as a dangerous imbalance of power in the country’s information space.
The NPO comprises major media stakeholders, including the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GCOP).
The statement was jointly signed by Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru (NPAN), Mr Eze Anaba (NGE), Salihu Dembos (BON), Mr Danlami Nmodu (GCOP) and Mr Alhassan Yahaya (NUJ).
While acknowledging that digital platforms have expanded access to information and innovation, the organisation warned that their unchecked influence is undermining the sustainability of professional journalism, which is the foundation of informed citizenship and accountable governance“Global digital platforms now dominate Nigeria’s digital advertising market, while Nigerian news content is widely monetised on these platforms without fair compensation,” the NPO said, noting that revenue that once sustained local newsrooms is increasingly being extracted offshore.
“This is not a conventional market disruption. It is the emergence of private, transnational gatekeepers over public discourse, operating beyond effective national democratic accountability.”
The media body cautioned that the continued spread of digitally manipulated narratives could worsen misinformation and disinformation, deepen polarisation, and fuel insecurity across the country.
“In a multi-ethnic, multi-religious federation, credible journalism plays a stabilising role,” the statement said.
“When trusted news institutions weaken, misinformation and coordinated falsehoods expand unchecked.”
The NPO further warned that no security or intelligence framework could fully compensate for the collapse of a credible information ecosystem, stressing that elections, public accountability, and citizen participation depend on reliable, professionally produced news.
“When professional journalism is displaced by algorithmic virality, democratic processes become vulnerable to distortion, foreign influence and manipulation,” it added.
Calling for government intervention, the organisation urged the federal government to treat professional journalism as critical national infrastructure comparable to education, healthcare, and the judiciary rather than merely a commercial activity.
The NPO also called on regulatory agencies such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to address market distortions and sanction practices that undermine national cohesion.
It urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to use existing digital laws or introduce targeted amendments to correct power imbalances, ensure fair remuneration for Nigerian news content, and protect innovation and competition.“
This is not a call for protectionism,” the organisation clarified.
“It is a call for strategic leadership to ensure Nigeria’s democratic conversation is not quietly outsourced to opaque commercial algorithms beyond national control.”
Warning that the cost of inaction would go beyond the media industry, the NPO said the consequences would include weakened institutions, declining public trust, and a more fragile national unity.
The organisation reaffirmed its willingness to work with government agencies, regulators, civil society, and technology companies to develop a fair and sustainable Nigerian solution.“
Protecting the Nigerian press is not an industry bailout,” the statement concluded.
“It is an investment in national stability, democratic resilience, and Nigeria’s standing as a constitutional democracy.
General News
Global Oil Prices Rise on Strait Disruptions, as Iran Rejects U.S. Dialogue, Supply Risks Persist
Global oil prices climbed sharply on Tuesday as ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East and renewed geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States rattled energy markets.
Benchmark crude prices rose above the $100 per barrel mark, with Brent crude gaining nearly $2 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate also posting significant increases. The surge comes amid persistent concerns over disrupted supply routes, particularly through the strategic Strait of Hormuz; a critical chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments.
Tensions escalated further after Iran denied claims by the U.S. officials that negotiations were underway to ease the conflict. The denial contradicted earlier remarks, suggesting progress in diplomatic engagement, adding to uncertainty in global markets.
The ongoing conflict has already disrupted energy infrastructure across the region, with reports indicating that dozens of oil and gas facilities have been damaged. Analysts warn that these disruptions could keep prices elevated for an extended period, even if hostilities ease in the near term.
Adding to market volatility are continued military exchanges and attacks on energy assets, which have heightened fears of a prolonged supply crunch. Oil prices have already surged significantly since late February as traders factor in the risk of further escalation.
Energy experts caution that if the disruption to shipping routes persists, prices could spike even higher, potentially exceeding previous record levels. The uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts and the ongoing damage to infrastructure continue to weigh heavily on global energy markets.
The developments underscore the fragile state of global oil supply chains, with markets reacting swiftly to both geopolitical tensions and conflicting signals on potential negotiations.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026, following his arraignment on alleged corruption-related charges.
El-Rufai was on Tuesday brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa.
During the proceedings, the former governor was docked on one count out of a 10-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency. The charge, according to his counsel, Ubong Akpan, relates to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetisation of earnings.
El-Rufai was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
Despite pending applications earlier filed before the court, Justice Aikawa proceeded with the arraignment and subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 to consider all outstanding applications, including the bail request.
No bail application was moved or granted during Tuesday’s session.
Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, Akpan maintained that there was nothing unusual about the proceedings, adding that the defence team was yet to be served with processes relating to other potential charges.
The case is expected to resume on the adjourned date for hearing of the bail application and other pending matters.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.