The unexpected inclusion of The Nation and ThisDay signals a possible truce in Nigeria’s media rivalry and a chance to restore balance in news coverage.
By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Journalism thrives on balance, inclusivity, and the fair exchange of information. Yet, in recent years, Nigeria’s media landscape has been tainted by a quiet feud between two of the country’s most influential television stations – TVC News and Arise News Television – over excluding each other’s newspapers from their daily review segments.
For years, TVC News’ popular Your View program at 9 a.m. omitted ThisDay newspaper from its roundups, while Arise News Television’s flagship Morning Show at 7:30 a.m. similarly ignored The Nation. The two print titles – The Nation, owned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and ThisDay, owned by Prince Nduka Obaigbena – carry stories often central to understanding Nigeria’s socio-political climate. Their deliberate exclusion, therefore, left many viewers questioning whether corporate and personal interests were being placed above the public’s right to comprehensive information.
But in what seemed like an unexpected breakthrough, viewers of Arise News were taken by surprise on Sunday, August 24, 2025, when presenters on The Morning Show reviewed The Nation newspaper – breaking a long-standing pattern. And in what appeared to be a reciprocal gesture, TVC News followed suit on Friday, August 29, 2025, by including ThisDay newspaper in its review.
As a journalist who has closely monitored this silent feud, I had been watching to see whether TVC would match Arise’s move earlier in the week. For days, the silence persisted, until Friday when TVC finally reviewed ThisDay. However, within that period, Arise had not repeated the gesture of reviewing The Nation.
This seemingly small act of reciprocity carries weighty implications for journalism in Nigeria. It suggests that the possibility of bridging the divide exists, but it also underscores the fragility of ethical standards when media organisations allow rivalry to override public interest. The damage done over the years cannot be easily erased. For students of journalism and young professionals, the message has been troubling: that principles of balance and inclusivity can be sacrificed at the altar of competition.
Yet, Sunday’s and Friday’s gestures should not be dismissed as mere coincidence. They represent an opportunity for both media houses to reset, to recommit to the values of journalism, and to embrace the practice of reviewing all major newspapers – regardless of ownership. Journalism must not only inform but also unite; by excluding key publications, both TVC and Arise risk shortchanging Nigerians and tarnishing the credibility of a profession that ought to be society’s compass.
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It is worth recalling that in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, radio and television stations often dedicate entire slots to reviewing newspapers across the spectrum, ensuring that no major publication is left out. This practice enriches public debate and helps citizens make better-informed decisions. Nigeria deserves no less.
As one who has dedicated years to this profession, I call on the management of both Arise News Television and TVC News to put an end to this conspicuous rift. Let the recent reviews of The Nation and ThisDay not be isolated acts, but the beginning of a consistent culture of fairness and inclusivity. If journalism is to retain its nobility, it must rise above corporate interests and personal rivalries.
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For the sake of Nigeria’s democratic health, and for the next generation of journalists watching closely, this is the moment for TVC and Arise to prove that ethical journalism still matters.
Ibrahim Kegbegbe is a journalist and public affairs analyst. He writes from Lagos.
