The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims made by Musikilu Mojeed of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, who alleged that journalists were being repressed in the state and that the governor had been blacklisted.
In a statement from the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, the government said the accusations were false and had no basis. It challenged the IPI Nigeria to present one example of a journalist being arrested, detained, threatened or harassed on the orders of the governor. The government also insisted that no media house had ever been shut down or stopped from operating in the state.
The statement said Governor Umo Eno has always maintained a friendly relationship with the media and has never punished journalists, even when reports were inaccurate. According to the government, the governor has been recognised several times by national media bodies as one of the most media-friendly governors in the country.
Addressing reports linked to the recall of two journalists who had covered the state for many years, the government explained that the move was simply routine rotation and not an act of repression. It said such staff changes are normal in both public and private organisations.
The government also highlighted efforts it has made to support the media. These include the donation of new vehicles to the state’s chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the completion of the union’s auditorium, and the appointment of many journalists to government boards and advisory positions.
According to the statement, Akwa Ibom currently has more than 350 media and communication professionals working with the government—more than any other state. It argued that this would not be the case if the government were hostile to the press.
The government said it was disappointed that such accusations were made without investigation or consultation. It called on Musikilu Mojeed to withdraw his comments and apologise, and urged the IPI to distance itself from his statement.
It also reassured the public that the administration remains committed to press freedom, open communication and constructive engagement with journalists. The statement advised people to ignore the IPI claim, calling it completely untrue.
