Charges Maritime Journalists on Developmental Reportage

The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has charged members of the maritime press to change the tide of negative narrative about the industry through shedding lights on government policies in their reportage.

Sakari gave the charge at the 2nd All Maritime Journalists Retreat put together by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria, AMJON, held in Badagry, Lagos.

The Senate President called on members of the fourth estate of the fourth estate of the realm to shed light on legislative, infrastructural and policy changes that will attract domestic and foreign investment to the maritime sector.

The ex-Kwara State Governor who was represented at the event by Chief Kayode Odunaro believed that the negative notions about the maritime industry was due to misconception and reliance on past policies and processes which might have been ineffective at the time.  Saraki added that such policies/programmes hampered the development of the sector.

In his words, “Over the past few decades, Nigeria has been on the receiving end of several negative notions which adversely affected the maritime sector and undoubtedly hampered its development. Many of these have been based on poor execution of policies and processes which were ineffective at the time.

“The solution to changing this negative narrative rests squarely with objective journalism; Journalism which can shed light on legislative, infrastructural and policy changes that will attract domestic and foreign investment in the maritime sector,” Saraki said.