The newly elected Chairman of the Crime Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Festus Fifen, has pledged to prioritise members’ welfare and uphold the professional dignity of crime reporters across the country.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the association’s General Secretary, Peter Ireh, Fifen described his emergence as the beginning of a new chapter for the association.
Speaking shortly after the conclusion of the election on March 5, 2026, Fifen expressed gratitude to members of the association for the peaceful conduct of the exercise, describing the day as a significant milestone for CCAN.
He also commended the immediate past executive members led by Sam Ogbeifun for their dedication and contributions to the growth of the association, noting that leadership often comes with challenges that may not be visible from the outside.
According to him, “It is easy to criticise leadership from afar, but once you assume responsibility, you realise that leadership requires sacrifice, patience and commitment. I appreciate the efforts of the immediate past executives who served this association diligently. They did their best and we will take it from here to ensure we surpass their records.”
Fifen emphasised that CCAN is more than a professional body, describing it as a family formed through years of shared experiences covering the crime and security beat.
“Many of us met while doing this job. We spend long hours together covering assignments and often see one another more than we see our families. This association is therefore not just an organisation, but a family bound by our shared commitment to journalism,” he said.
The new chairman outlined two key priorities for his administration: improving members’ welfare and protecting journalists’ professional dignity.
He stressed that welfare extends beyond financial considerations to include emotional, psychological and professional support for members.
“An association must prioritise the welfare of its members. That welfare includes psychological, emotional, spiritual and professional wellbeing. When members are supported, the association grows stronger,” Fifen added.
He also pledged to ensure that crime correspondents receive the respect and recognition they deserve from institutions and stakeholders within the security sector.
“Our dignity as journalists must be protected. When crime reporters speak or appear in professional spaces, they must be treated with respect. We must stand together to ensure our voices are heard and valued,” he said.
Calling for unity, the chairman urged members and stakeholders to support the new executive committee with constructive criticism, guidance and collaboration.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Jonas Ezeke, confirmed that the election into the seven executive positions of the association was conducted successfully.
He said the process was free, fair and transparent, commending members for their cooperation throughout the exercise.
“By the grace of God, we were able to conduct a credible election within the stipulated timeframe and declare the results successfully,” Ezeke said.
He expressed confidence that the new leadership would work towards improving the welfare and professional conditions of crime correspondents.
The newly elected executives include Festus Fifen of BEN Television as Chairman; Oluwakemi Kindness of Democracy Radio as Vice Chairman; Peter Ireh of Radio Nigeria as General Secretary; and Vincess Okushi as Assistant Secretary.
Other executives are Latifa Aremu of Galaxy Television as Treasurer, Gbenga Omokhunu of The Nation Newspaper as Financial Secretary, and Ejike Ejike of Leadership Newspaper as Welfare Secretary.
Members of the association expressed optimism that the new leadership would usher in reforms aimed at strengthening unity, professionalism and welfare among crime correspondents covering Nigeria’s security sector.
