Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi has tasked maritime journalists to be more committed to the reportage of events in the Nigerian maritime industry, even as he commended the quality or coverage that the industry currently enjoys.
The Minister gave the charge last Thursday in Abuja when he received a team from African Maritime Journalists Association (AMJA) led by its President; Mr Sesan Onileimo, at the Ministry’s office.
He expressed delight at the richness of the media reportage and assured that the Ministry would continue to partner the media in the efforts to communicate with all Nigerians, in line with the policy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The AMJA President, who was accompanied on the visit by the duo of Mr Godwin Oritshe of Vanguard Newspaper and Mr Lanre Badmus of Marine Business International , was at the Ministry to intimate Mr Amaechi of plans for the inauguration of the continental body’s executive committee.
He also seized the opportunity of the visit to personally invite the Minister to the inauguration and Special Guest of Honour.
Accepting the invitation, the Minister expressed delight that a Nigerian was elected to pilot affairs of the continental body, even as he affirmed his readiness to attend personally.
Other members of the AMJA Executive Committee are: Collen Jacka (Vice President) from South Africa), Mr. George Sunguh (General Secretary) from Kenya, and Grace Nana Esi Boateng (Treasurer) from Ghana. The inauguration is scheduled to hold in November in Lagos.
When reminded of the enormous challenges of piloting the affairs of the Transportation sector, Mr Amaechi declared that, “we are taking up the challenges one after the other”.
He stated that the on-going arrangement for national fleet expansion was one of those things that the Ministry has put its fingers on. “We are taking the issues one after the other, because we have a clear understanding of our mandate in the ministry”.
He told the delegation that the ministry is desirous of a responsible partnership with the media in the maritime industry.
He assured the AMJA delegation that his acceptance to be at the inauguration was a mark of his respect for the media.
He also congratulated the AMJA President for doing the nation proud, even as he urged Mr Onileimo to carry everyone along and be a patriotic Nigerian.
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