By: Felix Ikpotor
Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has called on journalists to be more interested in reporting the maritime sector to open up the various opportunities available in the sector to members of the public.
Mr. Ubong Essien, Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to Director-General (DG) of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh gave the charge while speaking at the a dinner organized by the Correspndents’ Chapel in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking their Press Week.
Essien stated that most Nigerians are blinded to the opportunities offered by the maritime sector.
Speaking on the theme: “Survival of Journalists in Security and Economic Uncertainties in Nigeria: Focuse on Strategic Reporting of the Maritime Sector, he said, “most Nigerians are sea-blind. This implies a people surrounded by waters but do not appreciate the volume of opportunities beckoning on them for exploitation. People should take keen interest in the waters, seas, and the fact that Rivers State is a key maritime location.
“As media men, show more interest in this aspect of reporting. Study what it takes to be close to the ocean; know more about shipping, fishing, water tourism, etc.
“Rethink your understanding of everything. Remember that oil/gas is becoming non-sustainable” .
Essien added: “The waters will replace oil and gas along land. Even land-locked areas are joining maritime organizations. This means there is something they have seen. The environment surrounding land is water; what is surrounding you is water. Take a second look and think, consider all the possibilities in water economy, newsmen in littoral states must be interested as immediate stakeholders”.
While stressing that NIMASA promotes sea-going activities, the official insisted that the agency needs the media to help drive the policy.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication said the Governor Nyesom Wike has distinguished himself as a man with a mission to redefine governance.
He said with the execution of projects across the 23 local government areas, Governor Wike has left visible signatures of his commitment to leave Rivers State better than he met it..
“Today, I say that Rivers State has entered a golden era in infrastructure, a golden era in healthcare delivery, a golden era education, a golden era in sports development, because we have a Governor who is passionate to use the resources of Rivers State to develop Rivers State.
“I take pride in being his Commissioner for Information and Communications because as the saying goes, a good product does not need advertisement,” he said.
He extended the commendation of the Governor to journalists in the State for the support given to his administration and thanked them for being partners in progress. “But that does not mean that we have reached our destination.”
He said Governor Wike believed strongly that the media partnership was one veritable way to make governance have the required relevance and meaning.
“I want to remind us again as media practitioners that the prosperity of Rivers State is our prosperity. If Rivers State is peaceful and stable, you will get more business patronage.
“But if you paint Rivers State to be what it is not, you will suffer, your dependants will suffer. So we owe the collective responsibility to tell the whole world that Rivers State is open for business with the right infrastructure and the right leadership for people to come and do business,” he said.
Nsirim therefore, enjoined journalists in the State to be part of the collective team that would ensure that Rivers State remained stable and peaceful.
Earlier, chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo while commenting on the theme of the week said it was meant to show first of all how journalists could preserve themselves before being able to perform their responsibilities to society.
He called on government to factor in media organisations as they consider bailouts to industries adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
