Lagos airport journalists report from under tree as SSS locks press centre

Up till the time of filing this report, not an explanation has been offered for the closure. Not a comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not an explanation from the SSS, no comment from the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN), the owners of the facility seem […]

Up till the time of filing this report, not an explanation has been offered for the closure. Not a comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not an explanation from the SSS, no comment from the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN), the owners of the facility seem to have any explanation.

The press centre was shut on Sunday, February 5, 2012 with the working equipments (laptops, cameras, writing materials, internet modems and personal effects) of well over 60 journalists of various media houses reporting the aviation industry. The Head, Protocol Department of the lounge, Mr. Afolabi Oduniyi, ordered the closure of the facility. He claimed he acted under instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru.

The VIP lounge is a facility used by Nigerian president and his wife; the vice president and his wife; the senate president, Speaker House of representatives, special adviser to the president on security, the serving governors, past Nigerian presidents, first class traditional rulers, foreign presidents (serving and past) and other high profile individuals.

How the press centre was locked

On Saturday, February 4, a man flew into the VIP lounge and claimed he came from Abuja. He walked into the press centre, refused to introduce himself properly and announced to the journalists he had orders from above to shut down the facility. He said it was improper for journalist to have a centre at the VIP lounge; that journalists are to be invited to the press centre only when they are needed. He proceeded to have discussions with the SSS and the protocol department.  On that day, FAAN was briefing the press on its activities at the VIP lounge conference hall, thus the order couldn’t be effected immediately, though the SSS had planned evicting journalist immediately.

After the press briefing, FAAN MD, George Uriesi, the leadership of the League of Aviation Correspondents (LAC) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists official, met with the SSS and the protocol department with the view to resolve the issues. No issues were laid on the table by the SSS or the protocol department other than a vague recourse to security concerns.  On February 5, the facility was shut down and journalists turned back at the gate. What followed was intimidation and harassment of journalists by gun wielding Air Force personnel guarding the gates of the VIP lounge. In one particular occasion, Mr. Akinola Ariyo, a photographer of New Nigerian Newspaper was threatened with gun by the Air Force personnel when he gained access to the lounge in company of Oba Obafemi Ogunleye, the Akinale of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta.

Journalists express frustrations

Some journalists assume that the eviction may not be unconnected with criminal acts carried out in that environment. Some most recent incidents include, an armed robbery attack reported in many newspapers, which exposed the security lapse at the airport.  There was also a report about  the movement of some VIP. The government is not comfortable with some of these reports,  the most recent being a report on the Ooni of Ife who was found cruising in a presidential jet.

Akinola Ariyo said the closure of the press centre must be condemned by all and sundry. “If we don’t fight our own battle, who will fight it for us? We have been using this place for over 30 years and none of us has ever engaged in nefarious activities.  I believe they have something to hide from the members of the public, which they don’t want the media to report,  because severally, they have been challenging our write-ups.”

He also noted that it is difficult for journalists to work now as their cameras and computers are locked in the press centre.

Ime Apkan, of the Blueprint newspaper and secretary to League of Aviation Correspondents (LAC) said it’s been very difficult for him and other journalists to file in stories on time.  According to him, unlike when members had access to  internet facility at the press centre, members now have to resort to using public internet cafes, sometimes, of low speed, to file in stories.

He said LAC had written to FAAN and Bicourtney Aviation Services Ltd, operators of MMA2,  for a space to be used as press centre, but none of the requests had been acknowledged. Calls to the FAAN spokesman wasn’t returned and a text message into his mobile phone on whether journalists would be given new facility wasn’t returned either.

Akpan also explained that most times, reporters mill under the tree at the VIP lounge car park or seek shelter in MMA2.  Since the lockout, he said, reporters have been unable to report any VIP movement as journalists do not have access to them.

Chukwemeke Iwelunmo, Chairman, League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents commented: “The sealing off of the press centre is undemocratic and it is done in bad faith. Whatever anyone might have told the authorities about us, is it not against the principle of natural justice that the authorities did not ask for our own side before shutting down the press centre, and barring journalists for the second week running? The press centre has been in existence since the repressive years of the military and no military head of state shut it down for one second. But a democratically-elected government has taken the most unpopular path by trying to muzzle the press. This is very unfortunate,” he said.

Union leaders and rights activist kicks

The Nigerian Union of Journalists president, Mohammed Garba, says whatever is the reason for it, the closure of the press centre is not justifiable.

He argued: “We have a social responsibility to the people of this country and we are backed by the constitution. Therefore, we should not be regarded as a security threat. If there is not any serious reason or basis for this action, we will consider it part of a deliberate plan by the government to clamp down on journalists.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an American organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide, has, called on the Nigerian authorities to explain the lockout – and to ensure that journalists are free to carry out their work.

“It is unclear as to why they are being locked out,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy coordinator, Mohamed Keita.  “Our enquiries have been met with silence and authorities have refused to comment on the matter.  Local journalists believe it is in retaliation to coverage that the government is not pleased with, and the authorities have been quoted in news reports as saying that the journalists cause a national security threat.” Keita said the journalists should be given their equipment back.

“This is totally arbitrary and it is a challenge to the rule of law in Nigeria – at least the authorities should provide an explanation of why they have taken this action,” Keita added.

The chairman of the Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum (JATUF), Benjamin Okewu carpeted the government over the high handedness.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Okewu had criticised the forceful ejection of journalists from the premises and the confiscation of their working tools describing the act as “barbaric” in a country that practices democracy.

“Our democracy is drifting towards authoritarian rule. The SSS operatives and the protocol personnel have gone to the ridiculous extent of confiscating journalists’ tools. All the organs of government should know that we are in a democracy. We condemn this act and ask for an immediate revocation of that directive. We will hold the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, responsible  because this act does not portray the ministry in good light,” said Okewu