Winner – Lami Sadiq

The story ‘Inside Abuja’s Kidney ‘Market’ Where The Rich Prey On The Poor’ by Lami Sadiq, published on Sunday 10 December 2023, uncovered the hidden world of illegal kidney trading in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

The investigation, revealed how vulnerable individuals, including minors from disadvantaged backgrounds in communities near Abuja, are coerced into selling their kidneys.

The investigation led to the arrest of a major kidney broker and implicated a prominent private hospital in Abuja. It also highlighted the lack of regulation within Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly regarding organ harvesting and transplantation.

Runner-Up – Ann Godwin

Inspired by the emotional trauma of witnessing widespread malpractice at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Rivers State, Nigeria, Ann Godwin launched an investigation that uncovered disturbing acts of corruption and neglect within the facility.

The investigation, published on pages 24 and 25 of The Guardian on Saturday of 1 June 2024, revealed how caregivers extort patients’ families by reselling essential medical supplies which were supposed to be provided by the hospital, such as oxygen and drugs.

Commended – Segun Odunayo

In ‘Forest War: Amotekun’s Many Battles with Herdsmen and Bandits’, Segun Odunayo of Punch Newspaper looked at the growing insecurity in Nigeria’s South-West. Published on Page 38 of Sunday Punch of 31 December 2023, the story explores the creation of Amotekun by South-West governors.

For the report, Segun Odunayo accompanied an Amotekun team in Ondo State on a forest operation. The experience provided him with a firsthand view of the harsh realities faced by the officers, including movements through difficult terrain and severe weather conditions.

This in-depth account offers an insight into the struggles and limitations faced by Amotekun officers and other security agencies in their fight against insecurity.

Winner – Jemilat Nasiru and Ibrahim Mansur

Jemilat Nasiru and Ibrahim Mansur travelled to communities in Lagos and Kano to examine the impact of electronic waste (e-waste) on the environment and residents’ health. ‘Living on Borrowed Time: How Nigeria’s Unchecked E-Waste is Poisoning Residents, Environment’, is a two-part investigative report series published on 28 September 2024 and 5 October 2024 by The Cable.

The report documents the severe pollution caused by the improper disposal and burning of e-waste, which releases toxic chemicals into the air, water, and soil.

Runner-Up – Daniel Ojukwu

The investigation ‘Undercover: With N45,000, I Got Valid Police Character Certificate for Kirikiri Prison Inmate’, carried out by Daniel Ojukwu and published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), on 17 July 2024 investigates corruption in Nigeria’s Police Character Certificate (PCC) issuance system. Ojukwu exposed how the PCC — crucial for verifying an individual’s criminal status — were being issued fraudulently for as little as N45,000.

The investigation showcased how a PCC was secured for a Kirikiri prison inmate without any official verification, exposing serious gaps in Nigeria’s criminal record and security systems.

Commended – Umar Audu

Published by Daily Nigerian on 30 December, 2023, the story, ‘Undercover: How Daily Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC scheme’, exposed the fake degrees certificates from universities in Benin Republic to buyers in Nigeria. The investigation, by Umar Audu, revealed how fraudulent degrees infiltrate critical sectors such as healthcare and security.

Through an undercover operation, Umar obtained a fake degree from Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) within 6 weeks. This exposé led to reforms, including the suspension of degree accreditation from Benin Republic and Togo.

Winner – Olukayode Jaiyeola

In the heart of Abuja, a stark contrast exists between the city’s wealthy areas and the struggling communities. This reality was captured by Olukayode Jaiyeola and published on the front page of Punch Newspaper of 22 November 2023. It is the image of schoolchildren attending classes in makeshift sheds, surrounded by dirty conditions and unpleasant smells from nearby refuse dumps in Abuja.

The photograph highlights the neglect faced by children in underprivileged areas, where the promise of education is overshadowed by inadequate infrastructure, health risks, and the absence of basic amenities.

Runner-Up – Elliot Ovadje

Elliot Ovadje yet again tells another powerful story through his lens- A front page picture of Punch Newspaper, published on 5 December 2023. The picture shows how school children from Teledalase Community Development Association, Maidan Orile, Lagos are faced with a daily challenge that puts their lives at risk in pursuit of education.

Aptly captioned ‘Between Danger and Dreams’, the pupils can be seen in the picture embarking on the journey to school on an unsafe, overcrowded boat. This is because the only bridge that connected their village to the outside world collapsed years ago, leaving the river as their only means of travel.

Commended – Elliot Ovadje

The image by Elliot Ovadje and featured on the special features page of Punch Newspaper published on 19 March 2024 was captured in the Ogo-Oluwa community in Oworoshoki, Lagos, and it tells the story of a family’s struggle to survive in the aftermath of a forced demolition that has left them without a home.

This image highlights the struggles of families displaced by forced demolitions and the trauma caused by losing one’s home. It also shows the urgent need for better housing policies, social justice, and the basic human right to shelter.

Runner-Up – Olufunke Fayemi

Offering a touching follow-up, the investigative story, ‘Girls in Oko Baba: Six Years After’ revisits the lives of girls in the Oko Baba destitute camp in Lagos. This investigation, broadcast on 6 February 2024 by Voice of Nigeria and produced by the Olufunke Fayemi, highlighted the plight of the girls.

The report details the challenging conditions faced by residents, particularly young girls, in a camp housing over 10,000 people in crumbling, overcrowded accommodation. It also exposed how many girls have little or no access to education, healthcare, or basic hygiene facilities.

Commended – Isaac Ojo

Broadcast on 30 August 2024 on Splash 105.5 FM, Ibadan, the investigative report ‘Understaffed and Overworked: The Dire State of Oyo State’s Primary Healthcare System’ by Isaac Ojo, exposes the dire state of healthcare in Oyo State. The report reveals staffing shortages in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state, which is hampering healthcare delivery to residents.

The report highlights how healthcare workers in PHCs, are overburdened and unable to meet the needs of their communities.

Winner – Aaron Atsahyel

A heart-wrenching tale of loss and trauma has brought to the fore the alarming rise of kidnappings in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. Titled, ‘Stolen Innocence; Nabeeha’s Tragic Abduction’, the investigative report carried out by Aaron Atsahyel and broadcast on Trust TV on 4 February 2024 unravels the shocking realities of kidnappings in Abuja, exposing the routes used by kidnappers, the collaboration between kidnappers and transporters, and the trauma inflicted on victims and their families.

The findings of this report raise questions about the effectiveness of security services in handling kidnapping cases and highlight the need for action to address the growing fear among Abuja’s residents.

Runner-Up – Lami Sadiq

On 10 December 2023, Trust TV aired an investigative report titled ‘Kidneys for Sale: Abuja’s Organ Trade Black Market’, which uncovered the illegal kidney trade in Nigeria’s capital and its satellite towns, such as Mararaba. The investigation was carried out by Lami Sadiq.  

The investigation exposed the network of kidney brokers, hospital staff, and local agents who prey on vulnerable youths, including minors, luring them into selling their organs for money.

Commended – Adedoja Salam-Adeniyi

On 9 February 2024, 12-year-old Aminat Alege, a student at Adam Yakubu Memorial High School in Lagos State, was injured when a police tear-gas canister allegedly struck her in the eye during a police operation. The incident is the focus of the three-part investigative report by Adedoja Salam-Adeniyi, aired on TVC News on 24 March 2024, 5 April 2024, and 23 April 2024.

The investigation uncovered the Alege family’s struggle for justice, revealing inconsistencies between police claims and medical reports. The story also explored the emotional impact on Aminat.

Winner – Chukwuemeka Emenike

Published on 2, May 2024 in New Telegraph, this cartoon by Chukwuemeka Emenike satirises the irony of banks experiencing cash shortages at their ATMs while simultaneously providing cash to PoS operators.

When customers turn to ATMs, they are often met with the frustrating message: temporarily unable to dispense cash. While nearby, a POS operator is surrounded by a queue of customers eager to withdraw money. The POS operator boasts of no cash limits and no network failures—advantages that ought to be the exclusive domain of banks rather than unregulated operators.

Runner-Up – Victor Asowata

Victor Asowata’s ‘Donation Extravaganza’ published by The Will News on 8 September 2024 highlights the stark inequality between Nigeria’s ruling elite and its impoverished citizens. The cartoon depicts a politician lying in a VIP hospital bed. He is shown receiving a symbolic blood transfusion, representing a life of luxury, drawn from a malnourished citizen. The citizen, visibly in pain, donates this symbolic blood in the form of taxes, showing the heavy burden placed on ordinary Nigerians to sustain the lifestyle of their leaders.

This cartoon resonates with the harsh realities faced by millions of Nigerians, who are victims of a system rigged in favour of the elites.

Commended – Chukwuemeka Emenike

Published 6 November 2023, the cartoon ‘Tighten Your Belts’ by Chukwuemeka Emenike, Senior Cartoonist at New Telegraph, highlights the glaring disparity between the sacrifices demanded of ordinary Nigerians and the privileges enjoyed by political elites.

The cartoon captures the image of a struggling Nigerian family waiting for crumbs from a table to fall off for them to eat. In stark contrast, the background reveals grinning lawmakers indulging in luxury, wining and dining without a care, highlighting the disconnect between their reality and that of the masses.