The Department of State Services, DSS, has delisted the name of the Executive Director, International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade from its watchlist after nearly 40 years of surveillance and harassment.
The announcement came during the 3rd Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the Nigerian Chapter of the International Press Institute, IPI, disclosed that the DSS Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, communicated the development in a recent engagement with the institute.
The IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed stated that the removal was the result of a sustained advocacy campaign spearheaded by IPI Nigeria, particularly after several earlier assurances by the DSS failed to materialize.
Arogundade, who served as president of the National Association of Nigerian Students between 1984 and 1985, had been placed on the watchlist during the military era.
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Since then, he endured frequent detentions and disruptions, notably at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
A statement signed by IPI Nigeria’s Legal Adviser and Advocacy Committee Chair, Tobi Soniyi, noted that the decision marked the culmination of years of strategic pressure and public campaigning.
Arogundade has expressed gratitude to IPI Nigeria, saying the relentless support of the media body was instrumental in securing his freedom from years of state scrutiny.
Media leaders present at the summit also welcomed the move and applauded IPI’s advocacy efforts.
Crediblenewsng.com
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