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NBMA Boss Writes Attorney General Over Misuse of Fredoom of Information Act

Published

5 years ago

August 4, 2020

… Calls for sanity in the use of the Act

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The Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Rufus Ebegba has written a letter of complaint to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Honorable Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami over the misuse of the freedom of information act by the International Institute of investigative reporting (ICIR).

The DG/CEO in a letter with the title “complaint against the International centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) for malicious and abusive use of information obtained from the National Biosafety Management Agency under the provisions of the freedom of information act: call for investigation and prosecution”, became necessary as a result of the misuse of information provided by the NBMA to the ICIR.

Dr Ebegba said there was the need to bring the attention of the Attorney General to the malicious publication by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) which was calculated to tarnish the image of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).

He said “this kind of sensational journalism that is hasty to castigate and founded on fallacy is considered to be most unfair and uncharitable to the NBMA since the information upon which the said report is based was obtained from the NBMA in its meticulous compliance to a Freedom of Information Request as provided for by the Section 3 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2015”.

“The ICIR by its publication constituted itself into an investigator, prosecutor and judge where it further adjudged the NBMA to be guilty and proceeded to publish its highly flawed conclusion to the world in what seems to be a hatchet job that is carried out on behalf of the detractors of the NBMA who in their manner to, by all means publish damaging contents about the NBMA”.

“The NBMA, in humble terms, is one agency of Government that has striven against all odds to comply with the extant standards and public procurement procedures as laid down by the Federal Government of Nigeria in accordance with the Public Procurement Act. Therefore, it has nothing to hide with regards its procurements”.

“However, it will not serve the interest of good governance where unscrupulous persons capitalize on the transparency of an agency of Government like the NBMA to publish cheap and unsubstantiated conclusions in order to serve interests, who work against the interest of the government and people of Nigeria. The idea of government offices and officials been demonized will not go well for the interest of the nation. There is need to stop this practice for us to have a sane nation, impunity must be stopped.

Dr Ebegba said the NBMA stands by the contract figures in the records it made available, being the result of a painstaking exercise by its Procurement Committee.

He requested that an investigation be initiated against the ICIR with regards to its intention, considering its deliberate misrepresentation of facts which it obtained through a Freedom of Information Request.

The DG/CEO said it is important that this growing practice of misusing and abusing government information especially by online media publishers be discouraged in order to save the responsible application of the Freedom of Information Act.

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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