By JAMES KWEN and SAMSON ELIJAH, Abuja, CHIKA IZUORA and OLAMIDE OJUOKAIYE, Lagos
The increasing in deaths among journalists working in especially the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos has raised serious concerns on the health, working conditions, standard of living and financial stability within the fourth estate of the realm.
This year so far has been noted with frequent and sudden deaths of journalists practicing in Abuja and Lagos despite the imposing affluence closeness to the machinery of governance and power in the two cities.
The disturbing trend is the worrisome circumstances some of the deaths occurred.
The Deceased
Osadebamwen, a former chairman of FCT council of the NUJ who worked with The Union, Core TV, The Nigerian Tribune and Kaftan TV before joining an online platform was reportedly found dead at his Bwari residence towards the end of August.
Odiakose worked with several media organisations, including The Nigerian Observer, Nigerian Pilot and Daily Asset, where he served as political editor until his death on September 17, 2026 after being sick for five days.
Ocholi, a former sports editor of Champion Newspaper who also worked with The Pilot Newspaper and pioneer editor and deputy editor-in-chief of the Daily Asset Newspaper died on September 20, 2026 following a protracted illness.
Onigbinde, a photojournalist who worked with Daily Trust before joining The Nigerian Tribune, where he covered events at the State House reportedly fell into a coma and was admitted at the Garki General Hospital, Abuja, before his death on October 17, 2026.
Onwubuariri, a former assistant editor-in-chief of the News Agency Nigeria(NAN) who covered the Presidential Villa where he later became an assistant director of information and public relations died on September 7, 2026.
Dr Leon Usigbe, an Abuja bureau chief of Tribune Newspaper, died on July 25, 2025 following a brief illness.
Dotun Oladipo, the publisher of EagleOnline, also died suddenly. No sickness. He was politics editor in Punch, former editor in Compass and The Sun.
Reactions
Like many other late Nigerians, the deceased journalists received flowery tributes from colleagues, their employers and the government in some circumstances who expressed grief alongside family members and loved ones.
However, beyond the tributes and condolence messages, the deaths have raised serious questions about the circumstances under which journalists work and the support available to their families when they are no more.
Mrs Taiwo Oladipo, the widow of late Dotun Oladipo, publisher of Eagle Online while reliving her experience, said it had not been easy without Dotun.
She said it’s like learning and relearning how to get by on a daily basis.
“The children have been getting by, it still feels to us all like a dream. It was so sudden, he died suddenly. We are taking each day at a time. It has not been easy but we thank God for His faithfulness.
‘’My advice to practicing Journalists is to prioritise their health, get your wife and children involved in what you do. Let them know how you run your affairs. It helps for continuity in case you pass on,’’ she said.
23-year-old Monday Ameh, son of a late journalist, Mr Ben Ameh, an online financial journalist, said the sudden death of his father had made life very difficult for him and his mother, noting that the impact of his father’s loss is still being bitterly felt.
The pain of the death could still be felt in his voice as he spoke to our correspondent.
“I am the only child of the family, I had a month to go before the end of my NYSC passing-out parade in Ondo State before my dad passed away,” he said.
Struggling to put himself together after his father’s demise, Monday said things had been very hard as he now has to care for his mother in Ankpa, Kogi State.
He said prior to his father’s death, his mother managed a small business, and he has not returned home after he left his NYSC place of primary assignment days back as he just moved to Lagos to sort out his father’s affairs.
Monday, who said he studied Economics at the Kogi State University with a second-class lower degree result, revealed that he wishes to replace his late father in the organisation where he served before his death.
Families Left To Cope With Losses
For families of deceased journalists, the loss goes beyond the departure of a loved one. It also means adjusting to life without fathers, husbands and providers whose contributions to their households cannot easily be replaced.
“God has been faithful. He has been keeping us by His grace. My children and I are doing fine. Nobody can fill the vacuum he left in this lonely world. But we believe everything happens at God’s appointed time, and nobody can question God,” she said.
She added that the family had been adjusting to life without him, noting that her late husband had made some provisions before his death.
On whether colleagues from his workplace had continued to reach out to the family after his burial, she said some had contacted them by telephone to check on their welfare.
She explained that the family was still mourning and had mostly remained indoors, adding that such gestures, although appreciated, could not replace her late husband.
Her account reflects the continuing emotional and practical challenges confronting families left behind by journalists whose professional commitments often kept them away from home.
Similarly, Ruth Odiakosi, daughter of the late Mike Odiakosi, said the family had been trying to cope with the loss of their father.
She said they are four children in the family and acknowledged support from the NUJ during the burial.
Ruth also expressed appreciation to colleagues and others who had continued to reach out to the family to find out how they were coping.
The NUJ FCT council had expressed deep sorrow over the death of Felix Onigbinde whom it described as a dedicated and award winning photojournalist whose career reflected his commitment to the gathering and dissemination of information in the service of society.
The NUJ FCT Council said his death was particularly heartbreaking, noting that his passing had created a painful void among colleagues and friends, as well as in the wider journalism community.
The management of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of Nigerian Tribune titles, had expressed grief over his death and described him as a dedicated professional whose commitment to journalism, professionalism and kindness left a lasting impression on colleagues.
President Bola Tinubu had mourned the death of Onwubuariri and described the late journalist’s passing as a painful loss to the Presidency, NAN, the media community and the country.
The circumstances of these deaths differ and there is no established evidence that they share a common medical cause. Nevertheless, their frequency has intensified a difficult conversation: how well does the media industry care for its own?
Senior journalists and civil society organisations have expressed concern over the sad situation, attributing it to harsh media environment which the deceased worked.
An associate editor with Aljazira Newspaper, Abuja, Abdullateef Bambgose, said the deaths of Odiakose and Ocholi were not only painful but also provide another opportunity to reflect on the harsh realities confronting journalists who spend their productive years serving the media industry without adequate protection, job security or financial stability.
He said while Odiakose was ill for only five days before his death, and those who came across Ocholi in his final days said he had been “dying by instalment”.
“His passing raises painful questions about the circumstances under which many journalists live and work in Nigeria,”Bambgose said.
“After leaving The Pilot, Ocholi found himself working with Daily Assets Newspaper, moving from one media organisation to another in search of a means of livelihood. It was a painful journey for a man who had devoted his professional life to journalism.
“Incidentally, it was in the same media environment that Odiakose built part of his career before his demise,” Bambgose said.
He said he witnessed at close range, the realities of working in an industry that has produced generations of talented professionals while failing, in many cases, to adequately protect them.
“Many media houses have become intellectual graveyards. Instead of nurturing intellectuals and professionals, some have destroyed careers and reduced talented journalists to a life of uncertainty, leaving them dependent on politicians, friends and relatives for survival.
“Ocholi, until he gave up the ghost, became one of the victims of this exploitative system of journalism. He moved from one media house to another in search of what to feed on, despite the wealth of experience and professional knowledge he had accumulated over the years.
“There are many Ocholis in the journalism profession today. They are alive, but in many respects, they are living dead — professionals who have given the best years of their lives to journalism but are unable to afford decent accommodation, quality education for their children or adequate healthcare.
“The tragedy is that journalists routinely report when the salaries of lecturers or civil servants and other workers are delayed for one month. They report strikes and industrial disputes arising from unpaid wages. Yet, there is often little attention paid to the fact that many media houses themselves fail to pay journalists regularly,” he stated.
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In such uncertain and perilous situations, journalists are made to work at irregularly long hours often under intense pressure from media owners and managements to meet competitive edge. And quite often, some work under heavy debt burdens and the weight of demanding depandants while struggling for the rights and welfare of other classes of Nigerians.
Bambgose said only very few media organisations can today boast of paying what can reasonably be described as decent salaries to their staff. In some cases within some media organisations, non-editorial staff end up enjoying better welfare than the journalists who work to sustain the organization.
“In some cases, what journalists receive monthly is nothing more than a stipend. The irony is painful. The journalist who reports the suffering of workers may himself be unable to pay his rent. The journalist who reports on the education sector may be unable to send his own children to a good school.
“The journalist who reports on poor healthcare may not be able to afford adequate medical treatment. This is the contradiction that defines the lives of many Nigerian journalists.
“The media industry requires stronger professional regulation and effective mechanisms for protecting the welfare and rights of practitioners. Journalists cannot continue to be expected to hold governments, institutions and individuals accountable while the conditions of their own employment remain largely unregulated.
“The deaths of Mike Odiakose and Dan Ocholi should therefore not be treated merely as two unfortunate deaths in a profession already accustomed to losing its practitioners.
Their passing should remind media owners, professional associations, journalists and policymakers of the urgent need to address the conditions under which journalists work and live.
A journalist may be living in a rented accommodation in the suburb of about 30 kilometers from the city center and still be required to run around the city pursuing stories and battling to meet deadlines, quite often with uncertain sources of transportation.
“Mike and Ocholi gave their productive years to journalism. They served the profession, informed the public and contributed to the development of the Nigerian media. They deserved better.
“Their deaths should become a solemn reminder that behind every newspaper story, television report, radio bulletin and digital publication is a human being — a journalist with a family, responsibilities, dreams and the right to a dignified life,” he added.
On Osadebamwen, Bambgose said journalists are dying in circumstances that should concern the profession and the society at large.
“Some have been unable to access adequate medical treatment, even when suffering from ailments that could ordinarily be treated.
“For many practising journalists, falling ill is not just a health challenge; it can also threaten their livelihood. Their physical presence at assignments often determines whether they will earn enough to support themselves and their families.
“Consequently, some journalists are compelled to endure illness and continue working, moving from one assignment to another as though their daily activities could cure them.
Perhaps this partly explains why some deaths in the profession are described as sudden collapses.
“There are many other “Patricks” still in the profession today—journalists battling illness, struggling to pay children’s school fees and house rents, meeting family responsibilities and, in some cases, struggling to provide even one square meal a day.
“When tragedy strikes, wives are often left to bear the burden of raising the children. Children are left without the fathers who were their providers and protectors.
“Patrick’s story is particularly painful. He had paid his dues as a journalist, working with several media organisations, including Union Newspapers, Core TV, The Nigerian Tribune and Kaftan TV. He also served the NUJ as Chairman of the FCT Council.
“He died while still mourning the loss of his wife, leaving his children behind. His death should remind us of the sacrifices made by journalists every day in the service of society,” Bambgose added.
Another senior journalist, Dr Emmanuel Anule, said journalists’ working conditions continue to be heartbreaking.
“Our profession, which holds power to account and gives voice to the voiceless, is too often met with precarious pay, exhausted bodies, and uncertain futures.
“Many of us work around the clock with little or no security, forced to scramble for alternative income just to survive. This constant grind takes a terrible toll on our health, our families, and our ability to plan for tomorrow.
“May God help us. And May God grant the soul of Patrick and other colleagues lost to cold hands of death eternal rest. Amen. Condolences,” he submitted.
A former presidential adviser and national publicity secretary of the former ruling PDP, Prof. Alkali said the passing of a former chairman of the council compelled him to reflect on the disturbing and increasing loss of journalists within the FCT and across the country.
“It is particularly troubling that we have continued to witness the demise of many media professionals within a relatively short period. The media family in the FCT has suffered painful losses in recent years, and each death represents the departure of a repository of knowledge, experience and wisdom,” he said.
According to the APC chieftain, this unfortunate trend should serve as a wake-up call to all stakeholders to pay greater attention to the welfare, healthcare and overall well-being of journalists and media professionals who make enormous sacrifices in the service of society.
A report released by Women in Journalism Africa (WIJAFRICA) in May 2026, based on interviews with 170 journalists across 50 media organisations in 19 states, documented concerns about delayed salaries, unpaid wages, low remuneration and inadequate employment benefits.
The report found that some respondents had gone months, and in certain cases more than a year, without receiving all the salaries owed to them. It also highlighted concerns about pension contributions, retirement benefits and the absence of regular salary reviews.
The findings point to a troubling reality: financial insecurity is not necessarily confined to inexperienced reporters. Mid-career and senior practitioners can also struggle to secure their financial futures.
A journalist may interview a wealthy business executive in the morning and return home worried about school fees. Another may investigate weaknesses in the healthcare system while struggling to afford medical treatment.
These contradictions expose the gap between journalism’s public importance and the economic circumstances in which some practitioners work.
After the death of these journalists, especially that of Osadebamwen, the NUJ FCT initiated a trust fund to support his children while the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu pledged to support the family he left behind.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) expressed deep concern over reports of journalists dying amid worsening working conditions, unpaid salaries, inadequate healthcare and financial hardship.
In a position statement, CISLAC said journalists deserved protection while alive rather than condolence messages and fundraising appeals after their deaths.
The organisation condemned the exploitation of media workers through delayed salaries, poor remuneration, lack of health insurance and failure to remit pension contributions.
It argued that financial challenges facing media organisations could not justify denying workers their fundamental employment rights.
CISLAC consequently called on government, media proprietors and professional associations to guarantee timely payment of salaries, compulsory health insurance, pension contributions, life and accident insurance, paid sick leave and access to emergency medical care.
It urged the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to enforce labour standards, while calling on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to work with media employers to ensure effective health coverage, including affordable arrangements for freelance journalists.
The organisation also called on the NUJ to strengthen collective bargaining and challenge exploitative employment practices.
Among its major recommendations was the establishment of an independently managed National Journalists’ Welfare and Emergency Support Fund to provide medical assistance, emergency support and relief for families of journalists who die or suffer permanent disabilities.
It further demanded a nationwide assessment of journalists’ welfare, including unpaid salaries, pension compliance and insurance coverage, with clear deadlines for corrective action and consequences for persistent violations.
CISLAC maintained that protecting journalists’ welfare was essential to press freedom, credible reporting and democratic accountability.
“Our position is unequivocal: journalists are not disposable workers, and journalism must never become a profession where people sacrifice their health, dignity and lives without protection,” the organisation stated.
It added that journalists needed decent salaries, functioning health insurance, social security and enforceable workplace protections rather than repeated condolence messages and fundraising appeals.
She said such measures should include mandatory employment contracts, regular payment of salaries, clear welfare policies and access to health insurance.
Evangel urged government institutions, particularly the National Health Insurance Authority and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, to engage media proprietors and professional associations on practical frameworks for extending health coverage and basic social protection to journalists.
She stressed that such arrangements should include freelancers and practitioners working with smaller media organisations.
According to her, media organisations should establish emergency welfare arrangements for journalists facing serious health challenges while ensuring that pension contributions and other statutory employment benefits are properly administered.
She also emphasised the need for monitoring and enforcement to ensure that policy pronouncements translate into actual protection for media workers.
“The point is that journalists should not have to choose between their health and their profession, or face financial hardship simply because they work in the media. Their welfare must be treated as an employment responsibility, not an act of generosity,” she said.
