Tag: NAN

By Biola Lawal
Abuja (FLOWERBUDNEWS): President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Ali Muhammad Ali, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on his 60th birthday, noting that his efforts as NAN MD was helping to combat spread of fake.news.

The President rejoiced with Ali, whom he acknowledged as ”a distinguished journalist and administrator, who has brought extensive experience, skills, and an influential network to strengthen further the mandate of the nation’s foremost news agency.”

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Pres. Tinubu also noted the Managing Director’s efforts to bridge the gap among citizens, private-sector leaders, and the government.

President Tinubu stated that Ali was recording the achievement through strategic coverage of national and international events, as well as the promotion of specialised reporting on key sectors and programmes.

“Under Ali’s watch, NAN continues to demonstrate consistency in news gathering, sharing, and networking with multilateral institutions, foreign news agencies, and media platforms,” the President noted further.

-President Tinubu added that Ali’s efforts as NAN Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ”have further enhanced the image of the country and helped in mitigating the spread of fake news, particularly through online engagement,”

The President commended ‘:Ali, the management, and staff of the agency for sustaining the mandate of Africa’s leading news agency.

“ As Ali celebrates his diamond jubilee, I pray that God will grant him continued good health, strength, and wisdom for more years of meritorious service to the nation”, President Tinubu prayed.

The NAN Managing Director  clocked 60 on June 7 (FLOWERBUDNEWS)

*IBADAN:  (FLOWERBUDNEWS):  Staff members of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have petitioned Oyo State Real Property Protection Agency over the invasion of their landed properties in Ibadan.

The NAN employees, in the petition written by their solicitor, Ademola Sodamade and dated Dec. 11, 2025, alleged breach of peace, threat to life and malicious damage by some land speculators, a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Chairman, NAN Housing Estates Scheme, Ibadan, disclosed.

The petition listed Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Mrs Oluwamayowa Ayinde and Mr Adewale Owoade among the owners of the land.

They said that some land speculators, allegedly led by one Mr Kazim, popularly known as Abija, had invaded the properties without any authorisation, removing all the beacons and signposts on the land.

The employees explained that they purchased 35 acres of land at Butubutu Village in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State between 2013 and 2014.

“After the perfection of the purchase, my clients partitioned the land and sold it to different individuals, majority of whom are staff of the News Agency of Nigeria, Ibadan branch.

“Surprisingly however, about a few months ago, Mr Kazim, popularly known as Abija, the Mogaji of Ile Aje, in Ode-Aje, Ibadan, forcefully entered the land.

“He removed and carted away some of the signposts and destroyed some of the pillars on the land with a view to selling it to certain individuals.

“He threatened to kill anybody who dared to stop him from carrying out his plans on the sale of the land,” the petition read.

Consequently, the NAN employees appealed to the agency to come to their aids by stopping the illegal activities of the land speculators on the properties.

Copies of the petition, including agreement of purchases, land surveys, photographs of the land and other relevant documents, were also submitted to the Olubadan Committee on Land Grabbing, Office of the Deputy Governor as well as the Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor, among others.

Speaking on the development, the Chairman of NAN Housing Scheme in Ibadan Zonal Office, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said that the concept was borne out of a cooperative arrangement among the staff members of the agency to own property through monthly contributions since 2013.

“It is very sad and disturbing that some hoodlums, under the guise of working for the state government, can forcefully encroach on the land, destroy all the farm produce, remove all the beacons and signposts installed there and threaten to kill and maim any of us on the site,” Balogun said.