Sports
ill-treatment: Motorcycle riders union President to meet with Wike, others
The National President of the Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria [MOUN], Comrade Julius Oghenevwegba Bobi has stated that the union would no longer tolerate a situation where their members are subjected to all manner of abuse by state governments and their agencies across the country.
According to a statement signed personally by the MOUN president and made available to the media on Sunday, he lamented that their members all over the country are been subjected to inhuman treatment which is no longer acceptable to the union.
The release read, “This is to draw your attention to the fact that the leadership of MOUN is very much aware of the travails and indiscriminate treatment meted out to our members who ride motorcycles across the country by the government and her agencies, the effect of which as the National President, I have risen to the challenge to hold a dialogue with the government over these harassments and incessant seizure of motorcycles that are hitherto being destroyed, thereby rendering our members jobless despite being lawful citizens of the country, who pay their taxes regularly’
“The information reaching us this week gave an estimate of about 700 motorcycles that were seized by government agencies in the FCT, Abuja, aside from other places in Nigeria. This is worrisome among other things motorcyclists are going through in Nigeria. If not harassment from the police as a result of extortions, it will be one thing or the other, a bane we can no longer tolerate”, the statement read.
Comrade Bobi maintained that the situation has forced him to write to the current Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike with a view to appealing to him to change his approach to handling the issues relating to motorcycle riders in the Federal Capital Territory.
You may want to recall that the Motorcycle Operators Union recently received their Union certificate from the Registrar of the Trade Union, Mr Amos Faloni.
According to the National President, the new development has now given them the temerity to carry out their operations in the way and manner that is regulated by the law. “We now have the full backing to exist as an entity without the harassment and molestation by anybody hence within the ambit of the law. We are poised to achieve our mission and vision statement as our core values and what the association represents.
Sports
SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism
By Joel Ajayi
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.
Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.
According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.
Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.
He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.
The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.
Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.
He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.
Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.
He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.
He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.
“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.
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