Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), has been officially removed from the Department of State Services (DSS) watchlist, ending a 40-year ordeal. The confirmation came from the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI) on Tuesday. The announcement was made by IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, during the 3rd Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The summit, organized by The Journalism Clinic, gathered media owners, senior editors, and other stakeholders from across the country.
Mr. Mojeed revealed that the decision was personally communicated to IPI Nigeria by the DSS Director-General, Adeola Ajayi. This marks the result of years of persistent advocacy and lobbying efforts by IPI Nigeria, particularly after earlier promises failed to bring about the desired change. Mojeed emphasized that Arogundade had faced ongoing harassment, detentions, and scrutiny, especially during his time as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) between 1984 and 1985, when he actively opposed military dictatorship.
Mr. Arogundade’s removal from the watchlist was hailed as a long-overdue victory by those at the summit. The media community celebrated the development, with Arogundade expressing deep gratitude to IPI Nigeria for their unwavering support throughout the years. He described the removal as not only a personal triumph but also a victory for principled advocacy. He thanked IPI Nigeria on behalf of his family, acknowledging the strain the ordeal had caused them.
IPI Nigeria described the delisting as a significant step forward for press freedom and civil rights in the country. Legal Adviser and Chairman of IPI Nigeria’s Advocacy Committee, Tobi Soniyi, also applauded the decision, calling it a triumph for journalism, justice, and persistence. He urged the DSS and other security agencies to continue revisiting and updating their watchlists to prevent future instances of unjust treatment.
