The death of the Publisher of the Calabar-based The Pillar Today Newspaper, Anietie Ben Akpan, is a terrible loss to his family, the Journalism profession, the Niger Delta region, and the Nigeria Union of Journalism (NUJ) family in Cross River State, a federal lawmaker, Dr Alex Egbona has said.
Dr Egbona, who represents Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency of the State in the House of Representatives, said on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that he had difficulty believing that Akpan had died when the Journalism world was still in need of his services.
Asserting that the Association of Niger Delta Online Publishers (ANDOP), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), would miss him sorely, Dr Egbona recalled knowing Akpan when, as a Reporter, he was working for The Guardian in Calabar, Cross River State.
“A few weeks ago, my attention was drawn to the health condition of Mr. Anietie Ben Akpan. I was told he needed financial assistance to enable him go through some urgent medical procedures.
“I did not only assist; I was in a hurry to send the financial assistance. I also reached out to his representative in the National Assembly, who is a close friend. I wanted Anietie to live and continue doing his good works for humanity.
“But two days ago, I got the shocking news that he had passed on. At first, I did not believe it was true. That news made me really sad. He was a good journalist and had paid his dues. This is a huge loss to the NUJ family and to the Association of Niger Delta Online Publishers which he belonged.
“My heart is with his family. I pray that they find comfort in God’s arms. I pray that God will give them the grace to go through this pain. But I can also assure them that they cannot walk alone during this trying times.”