The Ebonyi South Youths Assembly (ESYA) has called on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and other media regulatory bodies to intensify ethical reorientation and professional training for journalists, warning against the growing trend of publishing unverified allegations as news.
The call followed recent controversy over a report by The Punch alleging that N50 billion earmarked for the Ebonyi Air Project had disappeared.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National President, Comrade Odii Njoku, the group described the publication as speculative, arguing that it relied on allegations rather than verifiable facts
"The increasing trend where unverified allegations, social media commentaries and politically motivated opinions are elevated to front-page news without rigorous fact-checking poses a serious threat to journalism and democratic accountability," the statement read.
ESYA stressed that journalism should be guided by the principles of fairness, accuracy, balance and verification, adding that sensational headlines must not take precedence over factual reporting.
"The first obligation of journalism is to the truth, not political interests. Professional journalism requires verification before publication, not sensational headlines designed to generate controversy," the group stated.
The Assembly argued that major aviation projects are implemented through several phases, including regulatory approvals, technical evaluations, procurement processes and compliance with statutory requirements, noting that project timelines should not be misconstrued as evidence of financial impropriety.
It maintained that no documentary evidence from budget records, procurement documents, audit reports or anti-corruption agencies had been presented to support allegations that funds approved for the Ebonyi Air Project were missing or diverted.
The group further urged media organisations to strengthen editorial oversight by ensuring that allegations are properly verified and that official responses receive fair consideration before publication.
"We urge The Punch and other media organisations to uphold the ethical standards that have earned them public confidence by subjecting sensitive reports to thorough editorial scrutiny. Where allegations are made, equal prominence should be given to verifiable facts and official positions instead of presenting speculation as established reality," the statement added.
ESYA also appealed to the NUJ, NPC, NGE and other relevant professional bodies to sustain regular capacity-building programmes aimed at promoting ethical reporting, accuracy and accountability within the media profession.
Reaffirming its support for the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Assembly said the government remained focused on transparency, accountability and the implementation of projects under its People's Charter of Needs Agenda.
The group urged residents of Ebonyi State to disregard reports it described as speculative and to continue supporting the state's development initiatives, insisting that governments should ultimately be judged by verifiable achievements rather than unsubstantiated allegations.
