Nigerian Observer
Encyclopedia
The Nigerian Observer is a daily newspaper published in Benin City
, Edo State
, Nigeria
. It has been published since May 29, 1968.
The publisher, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, is owned by the Edo State Government.
In 1973, a correspondent for the Nigerian Observer wrote an article about an impending teacher's strike in Rivers State
, which was published on the Governor Alfred Diete-Spiff
's birthday. Taking this as a deliberate insult, Diete-Spiff's aide Ralph Iwowari had the reporter's head publicly shaved and had him beaten with 24 lashes of a cane.
At that time the Nigerian Observer was owned by Bendel State, the predecessor of Edo State.
The Rivers State newspaper the Nigerian Tide did not mention the conflict with the teachers.
During the administration of President Shehu Shagari
(1979-1983) the newspaper was subject to harassment by the police, with staff being detained and the premises shut, as were other papers belonging to state governments controlled by opposition parties.
Early in 1989 worsening economic conditions forced the paper to close for some time.
On 22 July 1993 the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida
banned the Nigerian Observer, as well as the National Concord, The Punch
and the Daily Sketch.
An analysis of the Nigerian Observer and other Nigerian papers published in 1999 noted that it had a relatively small circulation, with only 15% of column inches taken up by advertisements, compared to 50% in a typical North American paper. Many of the ads were government bulletins, Low revenue coupled with shortage of newsprint had the effect of limiting coverage of events, and in particular of limiting investigative reporting.
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
, Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It has been published since May 29, 1968.
The publisher, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, is owned by the Edo State Government.
In 1973, a correspondent for the Nigerian Observer wrote an article about an impending teacher's strike in Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, which was published on the Governor Alfred Diete-Spiff
Alfred Diete-Spiff
Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff was the first Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria after it was created from part of the old Eastern Region, Nigeria. He held office from May 1967 until July 1975 during the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon....
's birthday. Taking this as a deliberate insult, Diete-Spiff's aide Ralph Iwowari had the reporter's head publicly shaved and had him beaten with 24 lashes of a cane.
At that time the Nigerian Observer was owned by Bendel State, the predecessor of Edo State.
The Rivers State newspaper the Nigerian Tide did not mention the conflict with the teachers.
During the administration of President Shehu Shagari
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
(1979-1983) the newspaper was subject to harassment by the police, with staff being detained and the premises shut, as were other papers belonging to state governments controlled by opposition parties.
Early in 1989 worsening economic conditions forced the paper to close for some time.
On 22 July 1993 the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
banned the Nigerian Observer, as well as the National Concord, The Punch
The Punch
The Punch is a Nigerian daily newspaper. It is the second largest newspaper in the country in terms of circulation, with 80,000 copies published daily in 1999.-History:...
and the Daily Sketch.
An analysis of the Nigerian Observer and other Nigerian papers published in 1999 noted that it had a relatively small circulation, with only 15% of column inches taken up by advertisements, compared to 50% in a typical North American paper. Many of the ads were government bulletins, Low revenue coupled with shortage of newsprint had the effect of limiting coverage of events, and in particular of limiting investigative reporting.