• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Customs Partners US Mission to Prevent Expanded Visa Ban

      Nigeria Customs Partners China on Smarter Ports, Officer Training, Reforms

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Customs Moves Against 223 Importers in N379bn Permit Breach

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      How Customs is Tightening Borders to Stop Illicit Cash Flows –…

      Customs boss, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi with NAFDAC DG Professor Moji Adeyeye

      Codeine, Tramadol Worth ₦20.5bn Seized as Customs-NAFDAC Cooperation Deepens

  • National
    • Nigerian Air Force Welcomes 30 New Helicopter Pilots, Commissions Upgraded Facilities

      National Blood Service Agency

      FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from…

      Tinubu’s Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region’s Development

      DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi

      JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Olumode Adeyemi New CG of Fire Service

      Okello Oculi

      Okello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is’haq Modibbo…

    • Government
      • National Blood Service Agency

        FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from…

        Tinubu’s Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region’s Development

        Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Aliyu S. Abdullahi,

        FG Redesigns Agricultural Curriculum to Empower Youth

        Prof. Attahiru Jega, Co-Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms,

        FG Unveils Livestock Blueprint to End Herdsmen-Farmers Crisis

        Saidu Ahmed Alkali,

        FG Completes 135 Roads, Launches 216 New Projects in Northern Nigeria

  • Security
    • Nigerian Air Force Welcomes 30 New Helicopter Pilots, Commissions Upgraded Facilities

      DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi

      JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Olumode Adeyemi New CG of Fire Service

      Troops Neutralise 6 Terrorists in Coordinated Operations Across Borno, Recover Firearms

      Police Officer

      Police Nab Woman Linked to Murder of Pregnant Nurse, Mutilation in…

      Coordinated Security Efforts Making Nigeria Safer Under Tinubu’s Administration – NSA…

  • Features
    • Okello Oculi

      Okello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is’haq Modibbo…

      Leon Usigbe

      Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

      Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the…

      Ozumi and a recipient of a wheelchair

      Wheels of Hope: How a Simple Gift is Reshaping Lives at…

      Late Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and Mansur Liman

      “Buhari: A Blunt, Honest Leader Who Laughed at His Own Predicament”

  • State
    • National Blood Service Agency

      FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from…

      Tinubu’s Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region’s Development

      Troops Neutralise 6 Terrorists in Coordinated Operations Across Borno, Recover Firearms

      nipr logo

      NIPR Slams Fake News Peddlers over Alleged Lafia Flyover Collapse

      Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, Commissioner of Information, Kaduna State

      Kaduna Governor Appoints Strategic Communicator, Ahmed Maiyaki as Information Commissioner

  • Event
    • Founder Image Merchant Promotion Ltd, Yushau Shuaib, Nigeria Customs CG, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the IPRA representative during the 2024 GWA awards in Belgrade, Serbia

      IPRA Celebrates 70th Anniversary, Hosts 2025 Golden World Awards in Ghana

      IMPR Interns

      Unpacking Dr. Fatima Binta’s NIPR Vision: A Candid Chat with PRNigeria…

      Dr. Ahmadu Fatimah Binta

      Beyond the Clinic: Dr. Fatimah Binta Reveals PR’s Impact on Medicine

      FGC Yauri schoolgirls

      Kidnapped FGC Yauri Schoolgirls Defy Odds, Graduate with Distinction from Top…

      Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

      VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies…

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features NEMA Scandal: Analysing the Divergent Media Coverage
  • Features

NEMA Scandal: Analysing the Divergent Media Coverage

By
Gidado Yushau Shuaib
-
April 29, 2018
maihaja dogara
maihaja dogara

NEMA Scandal: Analysing the Divergent Media Coverage

Recent media reports indicate the growing uproar over financial scandals rocking the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which led to the suspension of some directors by the current Director General of the agency, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja.

As a reporter of an emerging news platform (News Digest) who follows and tracks stories of events as they unfold, I observe the divergent media coverage of the saga from two different perspectives, especially as being reported by the traditional (print) and online media.

With interest in investigative reporting, I am aware of the importance of primary and secondary sources for credible information. I therefore, rely on two major news distribution agencies in Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), a government owned organisation and PRNigeria, an independent Press Release platform for mostly security outfits.

However, in analysing the media coverage of NEMA, I have noticed to my amazement that the news reports from traditional media seem to defend the positions of the Director General of the agency, while the online media are more concerned about addressing the plights of the staff, including those suspended.

For instance, when the staffs of NEMA embarked on the nationwide strike last year, most of the online media, reported the protest from the perspectives of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) of NEMA Unit.

On the other hand, the traditional print media reported the efforts of the embattled NEMA boss, Mustapha Maihaja to sanitize the agency with his appeal to the National Assembly to pass the bill seeking to amend the act establishing the Agency.

With different reports on the protest, it is evident that the online media platforms provide timely, speedy, sometimes not fully edited reports on the saga, especially from the public hearing at the National Assembly. I realise too that the mainstream or the traditional media, delay their reports and sometimes provide different perspectives from the initial online reports. I also observe that journalists, especially in the print media, tend to engage in more in-depth research before publications in the limited spaces.

A further scrutiny indicates that two major media seem to be the arrowheads in reporting the NEMA scandal from different, if not opposing perspectives. The Nation Newspaper has a pattern in promoting the activities of the current management of NEMA under Maihaja, while PRNigeria Online News Release platform provides contrary views which protect the interest of the staff of the agency. For instance, it was the Nation that broke the news on the investigation of NEMA staff with a story captioned “EFCC indicts ex-NEMA DG, six directors for N2.5b ‘fraud’” and followed with another report the following day that “Alleged N2.5b fraud: NEMA board suspends six directors.”

After the report, the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management called for a continuation of a public hearing on abuse of trust by the DG NEMA which was widely covered with PRNigeria syndicating and publishing a story titled: “How NEMA Boss, Maihaja Blows N1.6bn Flood Victims Fund on Fake Firms… House Panel Summons Suspended Directors.”

Read Also:

  • Nigerian Air Force Welcomes 30 New Helicopter Pilots, Commissions Upgraded Facilities
  • FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from NBSA
  • Tinubu’s Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region’s Development

On the second day of the public hearing, after the testimonies by the suspended directors, the Nation Newspaper merely reported that “NEMA has complied with Procurement Act, says DG” while PRNigeria published two reports titled: “House of Rep Orders Recall of Suspended NEMA Directors” and another “House Uncovers Another N3.1bn Contract Scandal in NEMA, Maihaja Pays N400mn Demmurage on Chinese Rice”

Surprisingly, a day later the Nation published another exclusive report with a title: “Alleged N2.5bn fraud: EFCC invites 13 more top officers of NEMA,” while PRNigeria deliberately twisted the story with an appropriate attribution to the Nation with an alarming headline: “NEMA DG Maihaja Disobeys National Assembly… Sends Fresh list of staff to EFCC.”

The following day again, the Nation published two news stories: “Group uncovers attempt by indicted directors to scuttle EFCC investigation on NEMA” and “Osinbajo, House at war over N2.5b fraud.” The PRNigeria on the same day published an exclusive report citing an official letter from office of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and captioned the story: “N5bn NEMA Fraud: Petition Trails NEMA DG Maihaja on Monumental Corruption.”

While the nation reported the response of House Committee at a press briefing with an harmless but seeming ambiguous headline: “We Won’t Abandoned NEMA N23bn Fraud Probe- Rep,” PRNigeria was blunt and categorical with its screaming headline: “Maihaja Must Account for N22bn NEMA Allocation in One Year– Reps.”

At the hearing on April 19th, the Nation published a report with a title: “Suspension of NEMA directors, others in order, says HOS.”  The PRNigeria on the same day titled its report: “Lawmakers insist on reinstatement of NEMA officials.”

At the last public hearing on April 24, 2018, the Nation reported that: “N2.4b rice donated by Chinese govt intact, says NEMA DG,”  while PRNigeria published an exclusive report with a scandalous headline titled: “SCANDAL: How NEMA DG, Maihaja paid N400mn Demurrage for N414mn Chinese donated rice (Picture of Evidence).”

The varying viewpoints between various media phenomenon is always in existence but one needs to consider the integrity of the platform in believing its content. Online news platforms are becoming more domineering in the dispensation of news reporting as observers’ countdown to a no distant future when 95% of the world’s population will prefer reading news online.

It is necessary to state from the outset that, the traditional media observes a lot of process of authentication, verification and editorial approval before publication, Online media is speedy and timely with on the spot news delivery. While print media is reader friendly, the online media is viewer friendly.

While I am learning on the field of news reporting and investigative journalism, I discover that the two main masquerades behind the divergent storylines on NEMA are divided by their professional calling: a journalist and a Public Relations Person. They merely provide editorial contents from their strong perspectives.

Gidado Yushau Shuaib
A Masters Graduate of Media Campaigning and Social Change
University of Westminster London
[email protected]

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • ASCSN
  • Mustapha Maihaja
  • NCSU
  • NEMA
  • News Digest
  • Nigeria
Previous articleNAF Graduates 146 SNCOs at Military Training Centre
Next articleEvergreen Initiative hosts National Youth Dialogue
Gidado Yushau Shuaib
Gidado Yushau Shuaib
https://prnigeria.com
PRNigeria is the pioneer Press Release Distribution agency in Nigeria. A member of image Merchant Promotions limited, PRNigeria encourages individuals and organisations to be more transparent in their information management. with dedicated Editorial staffs, the PRNigeria ensures that information provided on its platforms are timely, factual and authoritative Read more at: //prnigeria.com/about/
Facebook Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Okello Oculi

Okello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is’haq Modibbo Kawu

Department of State Security Service DSS

Army, DSS-Backed Hybrid Forces Neutralize 45 Bandits in Niger Operation

PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship 2025 logo

PRNigeria Opens Application for 2025 Young Communication Fellowship

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA

Troops Kill Three Terrorist Leaders in Sokoto Ambush, Recover Weapons

Leon Usigbe

Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

How Customs is Tightening Borders to Stop Illicit Cash Flows – CG Adeniyi 

FACT-CHECK: Did a N10bn Lafia Flyover Collapse Three Weeks After Commissioning in Nasarawa?

Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the Machiavellian Strategist By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

NAF combat-ready Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operators

NAF Bolsters Battlespace Dominance with New Combat-Ready UAV Operators

PHOTOS: How Nigerian Military’s Coordinated Air and Ground Assault Crushed Terrorists in Warari Operation

Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

NYSC Seeks Stakeholder Support to Enhance Orientation Exercises

Late President Muhammadu Buhari

Walson-Jack: Buhari Was a Pillar of Integrity in Nigeria’s Public Sector

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • Nigerian Air Force Welcomes 30 New Helicopter Pilots, Commissions Upgraded Facilities
  • FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from NBSA
  • Tinubu’s Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region’s Development
  • FG Redesigns Agricultural Curriculum to Empower Youth
  • FG Secures China Funding to Fast-Track Kaduna–Kano Rail Completion
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Nigerian Air Force Welcomes 30 New Helicopter Pilots, Commissions Upgraded FacilitiesFG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from NBSATinubu's Government Unveils Multi-Sectoral Initiatives to Boost Northern Region's DevelopmentFG Redesigns Agricultural Curriculum to Empower YouthFG Secures China Funding to Fast-Track Kaduna–Kano Rail CompletionFG Unveils Livestock Blueprint to End Herdsmen-Farmers CrisisFG Completes 135 Roads, Launches 216 New Projects in Northern NigeriaJUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Olumode Adeyemi New CG of Fire ServiceTroops Neutralise 6 Terrorists in Coordinated Operations Across Borno, Recover FirearmsPolice Nab Woman Linked to Murder of Pregnant Nurse, Mutilation in Anambra NIPR Slams Fake News Peddlers over Alleged Lafia Flyover CollapseTinubu Offers Automatic Jobs, Gifts N250k to 210 Ex-CorpersKaduna Governor Appoints Strategic Communicator, Ahmed Maiyaki as Information CommissionerCustoms Partners US Mission to Prevent Expanded Visa BanOkello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu
X whatsapp