NPAN condemns soldiers’ “attack on press freedom”

Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has condemned Nigerian Army’s siege on newspaper distribution across Nigeria, which entered its second day on Saturday.  A statement signed by the association’s president, Nduka Obaigbena, Saturday after NPAN met in Abuja with representatives of vendors and distributors, described the action of the soldiers as an “attack on free […]

Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has condemned Nigerian Army’s siege on newspaper distribution across Nigeria, which entered its second day on Saturday.

 A statement signed by the association’s president, Nduka Obaigbena, Saturday after NPAN met in Abuja with representatives of vendors and distributors, described the action of the soldiers as an “attack on free speech in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano,, Jos, Maiduguri, Ibadan among other cities. “

The statement noted that the army started the seizure of newspapers and harassment of distributors and vendors  with “LEADERSHIP, DAILY TRUST, The NATION and PUNCH, but later extended the siege to all major newspapers in the country for the second day today.”

The statement reads in part: “The NPAN unequivocally condemns this attack of FREE SPEECH by soldiers, in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Maiduguri, Ibadan amongst other cities, claiming to be acting on “orders”. This assault on FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION through the stoppage of distribution of newspapers is inconsistent with the values of any democratic society and the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. We therefore call upon the military authorities to lift the siege immediately and call the soldiers to order.

“The NPAN notes the statement issued on Thursday, June 6, by the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, that newspaper distribution channels may have been infiltrated by some persons to transport “materials with grave security implications.”

 “As citizens and businesses, we take the security of our nation very seriously, and especially condemn the continuing daily destruction of human life by a mindless, cruel and criminal insurgency. We have, at our own instance, engaged various security agencies in the past to find ways of dealing with the security challenges we all face.

“We shall continue to do so. It is, however, deeply troubling that a siege has been laid to the media for two straight days on a suspicion over which no one consulted the NPAN. We stand ready, able and willing to work with all relevant security agencies to ensure the integrity of the newspapers’ distribution process.

 “The NPAN wishes to reassure its readers, partners and the public at large, that it will continue to work to promote peace and unity in The Federal Republic of Nigeria, while defending its constitutional role to hold governments at all levels accountable.

“Finally, we do not believe that given the already tense situation in the country the government or any agency acting in its name, will engage in acts that can only stifle free speech and encourage rumors to fester. We, therefore, welcome the assurances to NPAN leadership by senior security officials to end this unnecessary siege,” the statement said.

 Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he didn’t order the clampdown on the media.

Speaking in Abuja today through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs Doyin Okupe,  the president his administration would neither engage in nor encourage any acts that would constitute an assault on any media organisation or infringe on press freedom.

The presidential aide called on the media to bear with fortitude, the ongoing security checks on newspapers’ delivery vans, saying it was temporary.