The Plateau State Government has dismissed allegations that the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, directed officials to prevent certain media organizations from covering the flag-off ceremony of the new abattoir market project.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Special Assistant in the Office of the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Stanley Smiles, described the claim as false, misleading, and without any factual basis.
The statement was a response to a publication alleging that the commissioner, during a phone conversation, instructed an aide to bar some publishers from attending and reporting on the government event.
Refuting the allegation, Smiles stated that the flag-off ceremony was a public government function and that media participation was coordinated through the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, the umbrella body representing media organizations in the state.
According to him, neither the commissioner nor any official of the ministry issued directives to exclude or restrict any journalist or media organization from covering the event.
He noted that journalists from various media platforms were present at the ceremony and actively reported on the proceedings, a development he said reflected the administration’s commitment to transparency, openness, and equal access to information.
“The allegation is entirely unfounded. At no time did the Honourable Commissioner, Hon. Joyce Ramnap, or any official of the ministry direct that any journalist be denied access to the event,” the statement said.
The government further maintained that the Commissioner for Information and Communication remains committed to promoting government activities and ensuring citizens receive accurate and timely information about the policies, programmes, and projects of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration.
The statement stressed that any suggestion that the commissioner would deliberately obstruct media coverage of a major government project runs contrary to her official mandate and established record of engagement with the media.
The government therefore urged members of the public to disregard the publication and rely on verified information from official channels for updates on government activities.
The statement was signed by Stanley Smiles, Special Assistant in the Office of the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication, Plateau State, and dated June 16, 2026.
