(MRA/IFEX) – On 30 October 2006, Minister of Information and National Orientation Frank Nweke reprimanded the Nigerian media over the coverage of the 29 October Aviation Development Company (ADC) plane crash in Abuja, describing the media as “callous and insensitive” for interviewing survivors from the crash. He threatened to sanction any media he deems “guilty” […]
(MRA/IFEX) – On 30 October 2006, Minister of Information and National Orientation Frank Nweke reprimanded the Nigerian media over the coverage of the 29 October Aviation Development Company (ADC) plane crash in Abuja, describing the media as “callous and insensitive” for interviewing survivors from the crash. He threatened to sanction any media he deems “guilty” of this “offence”.
Nweke made his comments while visiting survivors of the crash at the National Hospital in Abuja. He barred newsmen from accompanying him into the hospital ward, saying, “It is callous and insensitive of the media to attempt to interview the survivors. I have witnessed such disasters elsewhere and it is not done. It is callous and insensitive of you and I will sanction any media found culpable.”
Ninety-six passengers and crew members, including several prominent political figures, died when the commercial airline headed for the northern Nigerian city of Sokoto crashed a few minutes after take-off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja; nine passengers survived.
