There’s tension at the National Assembly complex in Abuja as security operatives have blocked accredited journalists from accessing the chambers ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scheduled address to a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The speech, part of today’s Democracy Day celebrations, is expected to begin this afternoon. However, longtime members of the press corps—despite having valid accreditation—were denied entry.
Security personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Sergeant-at-Arms, and other agencies are only allowing individuals with “special accreditation” into the chambers.
“This is highly irregular,” said a frustrated senior journalist. “We’ve always had access with standard accreditation. Now they’re telling us to watch from the media centre.”
Major media houses, including The Guardian, Punch, TVC News, The Nation, and Vanguard, are among those affected.
