The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has called on all government agencies and stakeholders in the maritime sector to corporate and support maritime journalists, especially by making data and other information available to them in line with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Managing Director of NPA; Ms Hadiza Bala Usman made the call on Monday in Apapa at the opening of a 3-day training programme for maritime journalist organised by the Federated Maritime Media Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with Eyis Resources Limited.
Hadiza who was represented by an Assistant General Manager, Mr. Isah Suwaid commended the Chief Executive of Eyis Resources; Mr Lucky Amiwero for facilitating the programme, saying that the theme "Equipping maritime journalists for better reporting of the sector" is appropriate and timely.
The NPA boss stressed that, as those involved in news gathering, agenda setting and opinion moulding, maritime journalists need to periodically equip and update their knowledge and sharpen their understanding to meet challenges of the sector.
She said that constant availability of documents and data within the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act is the surest way of checking misinformation, misinterpretation or misquotations by journalists.
Also speaking at the programme, Chairman of Lagos Council of NUJ; Mr. Deji Elumoye commended the FMC chapel led by Mr. George Umunakwe for putting together a training programme barely two months after its inauguration.
Elumoye who was represented by the Secretary of the Lagos Council, Mr. Alfred Odifa called on maritime industry operators not to give recognition to any other journalists association except the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN)
The training was declared open by the Comptroller of Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Jibrin Musa.
Speaking earlier at the event, President of African Maritime Journalists Association (AMJA) Mr. Sesan Onileimo commended Eyis Resources for sponsoring the journalists for the training.
He noted that Nigeria is the only country with a formidable maritime journalist association like MARAN, even as he urged all journalists to be united and disciplined in carrying out their professional duties.
Onileimo stressed the need for periodical training and retraining of journalists, saying that "the quality of news churned out by our maritime press today is a far cry from what we used to have 20 years ago"
He urged other embittered associations in the maritime press to fall in line with the drive of the NUJ to unite all maritime journalists under one body; MARAN.
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