It is definitely not the best of time for the Nigerian media industry.
The industry has lost seven vibrant journalists to the cold hands of death within a space of a week.
Death, no doubt, is an inevitable end for all mortals but the quick successions in which the demise of the journalists happened has thrown the industry into deep mourning.
The fallen journalists who cut across both the print and electronic media, died from various ailments within the month of June.
The death of one of the journalists, Dan Foster-a popular Nigerian-American on-air-personality- was announced on June 17 through various social media platforms.
Sources said Foster, who had worked with a number of radio stations in Nigeria, died in a hospital in Lagos where he was receiving medical attention.
The veteran radio host has worked with Cool FM, Inspiration FM, Classic FM and City FM.
He was also a judge on Idol West Africa alongside Dede Mabiaku and Kate Henshaw on Nigeria’s Got Talent.
Before his return to Nigeria in 2000, Foster worked with many radio stations in the United States of America.
His wife, Lovina, confirmed to Channels Television that he was tested for the COVID-19 and the result came back positive a day before he died.
While the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm were still grieving over the death of Foster, then broke the news of the death of NkirukaUdoh, a Crime and Defence Correspondent at the Africa Independent Television.
She was said to have died of complications from fibroid operation at a hospital in Lagos.
She studied Mass Communications at the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu and then worked in her local church at Christ’s Embassy before joining DAAR Communications PLC where she started as a news reporter.
She later became the face of AIT and top news caster with the novel African Independent Television.
Reacting to the incident, a colleague, Chioma Obinna in a post said “Speechless.
“Nkiruka was nice to everyone.
“Always smiling even in difficult situations.
“My dear, rest on”.
In the same vein, her collegue at AIT, Senami Aminah Ohiomokhare in a post said “Call it denial….still can’t deal with the loss of Nkiru, such a sweet gentle soul.”
In another incident, a correspondent on the Business Desk at the Vanguard Newspaper, Naomi Uzor, was also reported to have died from complications related to high blood pressure.
Also, Azeez Sanni, an award winning Cartoonist at The Nation Newspaper, was among the journalists that died in the past few weeks.
A source close to him said he had been battling with a liver problem before his eventual death.
Yanzu Uwala, a friend of the late Azeez in a tribute posted on Facebook described him as a “Great Cartoonist per excellence”.
“So, you’re also gone to the great beyond this morning….it is so painful; so, your great art works and drawings left with you.
“It’s a great loss that you’re gone.
“May God be with the family left behind and I also condole with The Nation Newspapers over the demise of a great Cartoonist.
“May your soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.”
Other journalists, who died in the last few days but the nature of their deaths could not be ascertained were Xavier Ndayongmong, the Crime Editor at Daily Independent; Hugo Odiogor, a former Editor at Vanguard and Aramide Oikelome of the Media Project and Independent Newspapers.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu expressed deep shock over the demise of Xavier Ndanyongmong, the Crime Editor of Daily Independent Newspaper.
He described the late Editor as “a fine gentleman, a seasoned journalist and a distinguished crime reporter,” who covered the activities of the Command professionally.
A friend of Odigor, Isuma Isuma, in a tribute said, “When we met in Abuja for the first time way back, we spoke about how to use journalism to change certain narratives and be creative in our approach in discharging out responsibilities.
“You were a light not only to those in Guardian and Vanguard but to all journalists and readers who came across you or your piece.
“As you joined the angels to look over us, we pray for consolation for those lovely ones you left behind.”
Speaking on the incident, the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, expressed sadness over the loss of the journalists in quick successions.
“First of all, my heart goes to the families they left behind.
“It’s really sad that we lost those Journalists in the line of duty.
“This brings to the fore the enormous risks faced by Nigerian journalists as frontline workers covering the COVID-19 pandemic and reporting in the newsroom every day.
“Sadly, our government has refused to accord the media that status by ensuring that they received what is due to them in terms of commensurate remuneration, prompt remuneration; insurance cover and of course, special hazard allowance.
“Those in the healthcare sector went on strike even when their situation is not as pitiable as ours but yet, we’ve remained committed to informing, educating and indeed sensitizing the people about this deadly virus.
“I want to call on the government to use the death of these journalists as a springboard for addressing the myriads of challenges facing media practice in Nigeria; that way, their deaths will not be in vain.
‘I also wish to reiterate our call on government to provide stabilization funds for private media houses, print and broadcast.
“We are facing serious problems at this moment culminating in the massive loss of jobs across media houses.
‘We cannot continue to populate the unemployment market by allowing this trend to continue; same way government has rescued other sectors, efforts should also be made to rescue the media from this impending catastrophe,” he said.
