Media complaint commission probes Daily Trust’s Samoa agreement report

• Published On: 14 July 2024 at 21:23

Following a complaint from the Federal Government claiming that the article contained incorrect and misleading material that jeopardized national security, the National Media Complaints Commission opened an investigation into Daily Trust's coverage on the Samoa pact.

This was mentioned in a statement released by the NMCC on Sunday, confirming that the Federal Government's complaint had been received.

Emeka Izeze, the interim secretary of the NMCC, and Feyi Smith, the chairman, respectively, signed the statement.

On behalf of the minister, Mohammed Idris, it stated that Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, had signed the Federal Government's complaint, dated July 8.


In a statement, the government claimed that an item in the newspaper on July 4, 2024, “containing false and misleading information that severely threatens national security” was published.

According to the statement, the government filed a complaint alleging that "on July 4, 2024, the newspaper published a news item titled 'LGBT: Nigeria Signs $150 Billion Samoa Deal,' on its front page."

According to the article, the government has approved the 'Samoa deal,' a collaboration deal between the European Union and members of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States.


"Despite certain conditional clauses that require benefiting nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer community for recognition," the deal was signed, according to the statement.

The report was deemed "false and misleading" by the administration, per the statement.

The administration was described as claiming that "individuals and government officials have been subjected to hate speech, threats, intimidation, and cyberbullying across social media" as a result of the purportedly bogus story.

As a result, the statement claims, the government is requesting that the NMCC step in and conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the purportedly deceptive publication, among other things;

It further sought the Ombudsman to order the newspaper's management to address and publicly retract the fabricated information, giving it the same level of prominence as the original piece.

A clear apology for "allegedly recklessly disseminating false information" and the implementation of tougher editorial guidelines to prevent a repeat of such an alleged unwholesome story by any newspaper in the future were also demanded by the NMCC from the daily's management.

The NMCC said that it notified the ministry that the complaint was being looked into by the commission in a formal acknowledgment letter that was dated July 10 and signed by its interim secretary.


It stated that the government will receive the results in a proper manner.

We'll be getting in touch with Daily Trust's management soon to get their answer.

"It is our responsibility as an independent media regulating organization to encourage media adherence to the highest standards of professionalism and moral behavior.

The commission stated, "We are also expected to ensure that the media operate in a free and unfettered environment."

It added that it had started an examination into the claims made by the government in compliance with the mandate and its established protocols.

"We pledge to the public that our investigation will be exhaustive and unbiased.

It stated, "We are eager to have the full cooperation of all parties involved and promise to maintain transparency throughout this process."



The Nigerian Press Organizations, which are composed of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, founded it.

It collaborates with the Nigerian Broadcasting Organizations and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers.

It is the responsibility of the NMCC to offer the general public an impartial platform for addressing grievances regarding the media, handling all complaints in a prompt, equitable, and cost-free manner.

It is anticipated that it would uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics and practice while preserving press freedom and the public's right to know.