Participants at a public forum in Abuja on Tuesday have blamed the Nigerian syndrome in trying to always cut corners for selfish gains as being responsible for the apprehension about the security of online data in the country.

Using the 2023 general election as a case in point, they indicated that despite the promise of transparency to transmit election results electronically through the Bimodal Voter Authentication System(BIVAS) all hopes were dashed when the same electronic system was manipulated and the election became a sham. 

The participants spoke when the Media Foundation for West Africa, (MFW, and its Nigeria-based national partner, the International Press Centre, (IPC) convened a public forum to discuss the progress, challenges, and prospects of Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure.
The forum themed “The Status of Digital Public Infrastructure in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects,” was aimed at improving the deployment, public awareness, and uptake of digital public infrastructure in the country. 
Speaking during the event, Programme Director of MFWA
Abigail Larbi, stated, “As we stand on the threshold of a digital revolution, the need for open dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders has never been more critical. 
In Nigeria, the deployment of DPI and DPGs holds immense potential to transform the economy, improve access to education and healthcare, and empower all citizens.” 
“However, significant challenges remain, necessitating collective action and innovative solutions.
It is therefore timely and necessary to convene this forum to delve deeper into the status of DPI in Nigeria, its progress, challenges, and the way forward. 
“Recent surveys reveal that 72% of Nigerians believe access to digital services is essential for development. This widespread recognition underscores the urgency of discussions on DPIs/DPGs. However, equally important is acknowledging that 68% of Nigerians express concerns about online data security. Building trust in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is paramount.”
“There is a need to prioritize data privacy and cybersecurity measures to ensure that Nigerians feel safe and empowered to participate in the digital world,”she said.
Earlier, in her welcome remarks Programmes Manager, International Press Center, Stella Nwofia, said, In our rapidly transforming digital environment, where technology influences every aspect of life, it is essential to recognize the significant role Nigerian journalists play in fostering awareness and championing DPI and DPGs. 
“As conveyors of information and narrators of stories, these media practitioners possess the extraordinary ability to elevate public awareness about the transformative impact of DPIs and DPGs, encouraging thoughtful discourse among citizens, decision-makers, and various stakeholders.
“By illuminating the advantages, challenges, and prospects linked with DPIs and DPGs, Nigerian journalists are pivotal in molding public perception and influencing policies that will lead to fairer access to vital digital resources nationwide.
“Their investigative work, analytical pieces, and features empower communities with precise and pertinent information, thus equipping them to make informed decisions about their interactions with DPIs and DPGs.”
Also speaking, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Cross River State, Emmanuel Ogbeche, highlighted that “The challenge of insecurity is a major threat to digital education across Nigeria and the subregion, and Africa as a whole. 
He gave an instance with the situation in the Northeast. The challenge of Boko Haram terrorists destroying public masts and digital infrastructure as enormous, cutting off a whole section of citizens from communicating and accessing the right information. 
“Therefore, it is incumbent upon the government to provide the requisite infrastructure. This is why it is important for the West Africa Foundation and IPC to bring attention to this issue, so that we can understand how to best utilize our resources. 
During the panel discussion and responding to how Nigerians can get Digital public infrastructure like other countries, Director of the Digital Economy Development Department  at the National Information Technology Development Agency, Dr. Engineer Salisu Kaka,”There is a lot of struggle in terms of educating the society and the people. 
Capital investment is something that requires collaboration, largely in the private sector, because private sectors are the ones making investments. The government’s role is to enable a safe and efficient space for investment. 
“We are currently struggling through policies, guidelines, and standards that need to be put in place to ensure a business-friendly environment. It is important to learn from reality. If we want to improve, it is a global stride, just like when the internet initially came. It had its challenges, but now, if I ask all of us, the internet is as important as oxygen.
“Once there are disruptions, innovation comes out, but there are consequences. Therefore, the government has to ensure that necessary safeguards are provided in terms of technology, ethics, security, privacy, and that trust is built in society.”

**ask Tinubu to Protect Free press, Nigeria’s democracy against military misconduct

As Mr.Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews regained freedom after he was reportedly whisked away from his home situated at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State, after 14 days, the Nigerian media community has indicated that it is not yet uhuru for his tormentors..
The International Press Institute (IPI), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday said they shall consult further in the next few days on the actions to take against the CDS, the CDI, and the military regarding this matter.
They asked the Tinubu Led Federal Government to protect the Nigerian democracy against military misconduct.
Addressing a press conference at FCT Council of NUJ, Utako, Abuja, to update members of the public about the abduction of the Editor, FirstNews, Mr. Segun Olatunji they also demand protection of free press from the government.
Olatunji, who was abducted by 10 fully armed military men and believed to have been taken into custody by the Defence Intelligence Agency regained his freedom after he was detained for 14 days.

Several appeals were made by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), Nigeria Guild of Editors and other organisations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to activate the powers of his office as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to direct the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to produce Segun Olatunji.

The secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Iyobosa Uwugiaren who addressed the press conference said the joint press conference was called to update members of the public on the ordeal of the Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who armed people we earlier thought were non-state actors abducted from his home in Lagos on March 15.
He said, “In a statement issued by the management of FirstNews, Mr. Olatunji’s abduction was linked to a recent story published by the media organization titled, “Revealed: Defence Chief running office like family business Public Interest Lawyers.”

“Narrating the ugly incident, Mr. Olatunji’s wife, who witnessed the abduction of her husband, said the armed men stormed their residence a few minutes after 6 pm that day.
“She said on their arrival, the abductors immediately confiscated her husband’s telephone before shoving him into a van. She said she asked the abductors what her husband’s offence was and where they were taking him. The stern-looking men rebuffed her enquiries.

“For days, the Publisher of FirstNews, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, as well as Mr. Olatunji’s colleagues and family members, tried in vain to locate him. But those who abducted him ensured he was incommunicado. “They also ensured that no one knew his whereabouts, a development that further traumatised his family, employers and colleagues.

“For days, the leaderships of the IPI, the NGE and the NUJ frantically searched for Mr. Olatunji. We interacted with the presidency, the Nigeria Police Force (Lagos and Abuja), the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Ministry of Interior, the Defence Headquarters, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and the State Security Services (SSS). “Other security agencies were also contacted. But all the efforts failed until last night. The military claimed the journalist was not in their custody. They lied to us and top government officials whose interventions we sought.

“However, on Monday, IPI Nigeria was able to determine (without doubt) that the journalist was being detained and tortured by the Defence Intelligence Agency in Abuja.
“The IPI then informed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, of its finding and asked them to release our colleague immediately.
“We also provided that information to top government officials who also reached out to Generals Musa and Undiandeye. Again, they lied that the journalist was not in their custody. Yet our sources were telling us we needed to act fast to save our colleague from being killed.

“That was what culminated in the IPI Nigeria’s press statement of Wednesday, which clearly accused the DIA of abducting and detaining Mr. Olatunji.
“Once that statement circulated in the media, the anti-democratic officers became jittery. They became even more confused after they became aware that the NGE, the NUJ, and the IPI had scheduled a follow-up press conference for this morning. “Knowing the game was up. they admitted their crime last night. They confessed to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, that our colleague was in their custody and that they would release him immediately.

“At this point, we want to put on record the important role played by the Minister of Information and other top officials of government towards the resolution of this matter.
“These reckless and anti-media officers, who apparently have no respect for civilian authorities, lied to and disobeyed officials of the federal government who intervened.

“We are sure that many right-thinking members of society, including the international community, are both amazed and shocked by the lawlessness and fear-provoking action of the DIA – an agency under the command of Major General Undiandeye, who reports directly to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.

“The DIA’s action makes us wonder about its real intention. Our suspicion is that they planned to secretly eliminate Mr. Olatunji so that members of the public could attribute his disappearance to unknown gunmen. But we are glad they failed.

“For us, this vicious, uncivilized, unlawful and criminal action of the DIA is unacceptable. The action is alien to Nigeria’s democratic space. It is now clear that there are some officers in our military who are still finding it difficult to subject themselves to civil authority 24 years after our country returned to representative governance.

“We do not think this kind of attitude should be condoned by President Bola Tinubu, particularly, and Nigerians, in general. If officers in a military institution like DIA could hack a journalist’s telephone, mishandle his wife, abduct him, detain him secretly for 12 days and disobey senior officials of the federal government, then our democracy cannot be said to be safe.

“Although our colleague has now been released, we are calling on President Tinubu to ensure that these officers are punished for their bad behaviour. By all standards, the actions of the DIA, General Musa and Major General Undiandeye are against the provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and other international instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory – which forbid the detention of any citizen or resident beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order.

“More so, the DIA’s action is a direct attack on press freedom. One of the core missions of the free press is to serve as a watchdog on power. The press, as we all know, is the connection between the people and the government. If the press is not allowed to carry out its social and constitutional responsibilities but instead obligated to power, it simply serves as an extension of power.
“Without freedom of the press, our democracy is endangered. In the case of corruption, a free press is critical to exposing abuses of power. For sure, the media is not above the law, but in a democracy, the only way to determine wrong or right is through the legal process,

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has expressed shock over the death of ace sport writter and Chairman of Peoples Daily Chapel of NUJ FCT Council Alber Akota describing it as a great loss to the union and journalism profession.

In a statement released Sunday in Abuja, jointly signed by Comrades Osaretin Osadebamwen and Ochiaka Ugwu, Chairman and Secretary of Council respectively, it noted that council received the news of the death of the ace sportswriter with rude shock.

It stated that the late Akota was not only a strong member of the council, who never missed any council’s activities, but a committed comrade who was always desirous to lend a helping hand to colleagues whenever the need arises.

According to the statement, “The former Sport Editor would be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the growth of the journalism profession, and NUJ as umbrella body of all practicing journalists.

“It is a sad and grieving moment for the NUJ family and Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in particular. It is more worrying that he died when his services were most needed by the council and his medium, Peoples Daily.

“Akota was a dedicated newsman, an exemplary, unpretentious and hard-working Journalist, who discharged his duties with diligence, devotion and integrity.

“Akota was modest, calm and gentle during his lifetime and would be greatly missed by his colleagues and fans.

“Make no mistake about it, the council had lost an industrious and active member to the cold hands of death. It was more painful that he died when his services were mostly needed”.

It would be recalled that Akota died at the early hours of Saturday March 16 after a protracted illness and was survived by his wife and three children.