Education
University Of Cross River Detains Student For Over A Week For Speaking Against Unjust Policy, Group Demands Release
The Citizens’ Solution Network has condemned the action, calling it a gross violation of Eyam’s fundamental human right to free speech.
Agraduate student, Martins Eyam, has reportedly been imprisoned for over a week by the University of Cross River State management, led by Acting Vice Chancellor Mrs. Francisca Bassey, for speaking out against the school’s “No School Fees, No Exams” policy.
The Citizens’ Solution Network has condemned the action, calling it a gross violation of Eyam’s fundamental human right to free speech.
In a statement on Wednesday by the organisation’s Country Director, Richard Inoyo, titled “University of Cross River State and Its Vice Chancellor Should End The Abuse of Power and Release Student Martins Eyam From The Calabar Prison”, described the Vice Chancellor’s action as “arbitrary abysmal.
“What the Vice Chancellor Mrs. Francisca Bassey has done is arbitrary abysmal,” Inoyo said.
“No government appoints any acting Vice Chancellor to operate with impunity or even use the state’s security outfit to target dissent and jail them when their primary role is to confront criminal elements and protect innocent persons who have committed no crime.”
The group argued that the Vice Chancellor’s actions are a clear example of abuse of power.
“Let it be said that neither the acting Vice Chancellor who is openly violating the right of graduate student Martins Eyam by using public security and imprisonment institutions nor even a devil of any means would stand their son or daughter or ward being abducted and locked up in Calabar Prison for simply exercising their right to expression which is constitutionally guaranteed,” Inoyo emphasised.
The network appealed to the Cross River State Governor and Attorney General to intervene and ensure Eyam’s immediate release, adding that the Vice Chancellor’s actions are unconstitutional and undermine the fundamental rights of students.
The group cites Section 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference,” Inoyo quoted. This right, the organisation argues, has been grossly violated in Eyam’s case.
The Citizens’ Solution Network demands that the University prioritises intellectual diversity and policy alternative pathways. “Human rights violation especially as regards free speech is a gross indictment against any citadel of learning where freedom of expression ought to be glorified and dissident voices allowed to stress and reemphasize the vital significance of intellectual diversity and policy alternative pathways,” Inoyo stated.
The organisation warns that if this atrocity is not addressed, it may set a dangerous precedent for future human rights violations in the institution.
“Today, graduate student Martins Eyam is the victim, none of us can tell if tomorrow a mini tyrant might overstep her bound to imprison one of our own children who did no wrong,” Inoyo cautioned.
The Citizens’ Solution Network demands that the acting Vice Chancellor be relieved of her appointment forthwith, given this grave transgression.
“Free graduate student Martins Eyam now,” Inoyo urged. The organisation believes that the Vice Chancellor’s actions are unacceptable and that she should be held accountable for her actions.
The group is calling on all stakeholders to condemn this egregious violation of human rights and to demand Eyam’s immediate release.
The Citizens’ Solution Network believes that the University should be a place of learning and intellectual freedom, not a place of oppression and human rights abuse.
The organisation said it is committed to fighting for the rights of students and ensuring that justice is served.
“We condemn the unacceptable abduction and gross violation of the right of graduate student Martins Eyam in the strongest terms,” Inoyo said, reiterating the organisation’s demand for Eyam’s unconditional release.
-Sahara reporters
Education
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has called for stronger distribution frameworks within Nigeria’s film industry to ensure that locally produced content achieves global visibility.
Dr Husseini made this call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.
Welcoming participants to the festival, Dr Husseini expressed his personal delight at hosting the event in Enugu, his birth state, noting the city’s rich cultural heritage and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s creative landscape.
He commended the festival organisers, particularly the Festival Director, Uche Agbo, for their resilience and commitment in sustaining the initiative.
According to him, the Coal City Film Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform and a must-attend cinematic event in South East Nigeria.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, “Local Stories, Global Screens,” Dr Husseini emphasised the importance of authenticity in storytelling. He noted that films rooted in local realities, languages, and cultural truths often resonate more strongly with global audiences.
He cited notable Nigerian productions such as “King of Boys” by Kemi Adetiba, “The Wedding Party” by Mo Abudu, “Anikulapo” by Kunle Afolayan, “Black Book” by Editi Effiong, and “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji as examples of culturally grounded stories that have gained international recognition on platforms such as Netflix and at global film festivals.
While acknowledging the growth in film production across Nigeria, the NFVCB boss identified distribution as a major bottleneck in the industry. He observed that many high-quality films struggle to reach audiences both locally and internationally due to limited distribution channels.
Dr. Husseini therefore urged film festivals across the country to evolve beyond networking platforms into active marketplaces where filmmakers can secure distribution deals. He stressed that festivals must attract distributors, exhibitors, streaming platforms, and marketers to create tangible opportunities for filmmakers.
“Film festivals must become gateways to distribution where filmmakers leave not just with applause, but with real opportunities,” he said.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment to industry development, Dr. Husseini stated that the NFVCB has continued to reposition itself as a partner in progress by engaging stakeholders, improving classification processes, and promoting a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility.
However, he raised concerns over increasing non-compliance with regulatory requirements, noting that some filmmakers bypass the Board by releasing unclassified films or operating without proper licensing.
He reiterated that all films and video works must be submitted to the NFVCB for classification and registration before being released on any platform, including digital platforms such as YouTube.
“This is a legal obligation, and the Board will not hesitate to take decisive action against defaulters,” he warned, adding that regulation is essential for protecting the industry, audiences, and national values.
Looking ahead, Dr. Husseini assured stakeholders of the Board’s continued collaboration with filmmakers and festival organisers to build a structured, sustainable, and globally competitive Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by commending the organisers of the Coal City Film Festival for their vision and contribution to Nigeria’s cultural economy, urging filmmakers to continue telling authentic stories that can resonate across global screens.
-Leadership
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, made this known on Thursday while delivering a speech at a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.
The ASUU president noted that the demand forms part of broader efforts to improve the welfare of university lecturers and address long-standing concerns about poor remuneration, which he said has contributed to brain drain and declining standards in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa have warned that Nigeria’s inflation trajectory may reverse its recent disinflation trend, with headline inflation projected to climb to about 16 per cent in the near term, driven by the ripple effects of the escalating Middle East crisis on energy and domestic prices.
This is as they stressed that without swift policy responses, rising energy costs could deepen cost-of-living pressures and erode recent gains in price stability.
However, the analysts noted that the decline was weaker than expected, largely due to a resurgence in food inflation, which rose by 3.2 percentage points year-on-year to 12.1 per cent, offsetting gains in core inflation, which declined by 1.8 percentage points to 15.9 per cent.
On a month-on-month basis, inflationary pressures showed renewed volatility, with headline inflation rising by 2.0 per cent in February, a sharp reversal from the deflationary reading of negative 2.9 per cent recorded in January.
Despite this, analysts cautioned that underlying price pressures remain elevated, particularly from persistently high food costs and structural bottlenecks across the economy.
Looking ahead, Afrinvest highlighted that developments in the Middle East pose significant upside risks to inflation. According to the firm, crude oil prices have surged to about $105 per barrel from $72.69 at the end of February, triggering a sharp increase in domestic energy costs.
The report noted that the spike has already translated into higher retail prices of petroleum products, with petrol rising to about N1,350 per litre, diesel to N1,650 per litre, and cooking gas to N1,400 per kilogram in several states.
“These increases are expected to cascade across transportation, logistics, healthcare and food prices,” the analysts said, adding that existing structural challenges such as inadequate power supply, poor road infrastructure and insecurity could further amplify inflationary pressures.
In its baseline scenario, Afrinvest projected that the pass-through effect of the energy shock could drive headline inflation up by about 150 basis points to 16.6 per cent year-on-year, while month-on-month inflation could spike to 5.2 per cent.
The firm warned that a prolonged crisis could derail the Federal Government’s target of reducing average inflation to 16.5 per cent in 2026 from 23.3 per cent recorded in 2025.
To mitigate the impact on households, Afrinvest urged the government to implement targeted interventions, including the rollout of affordable mass transit systems, healthcare subsidies for low-income earners, and the temporary suspension of tariffs and related charges on food imports and other essential commodities.
-Leadership
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