The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has called for media partnership on the government’s drive to diversify the economy for growth and create alternative opportunities for investments
Peterside, who received in audience, leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its National President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusile, at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos, acknowledged that media is the interface between the public and the Government.
He asked the practitioners to be professional in their reporting as people look up to them as the major source of information, especially as the government seeks to diversify the economy from oil.
“We urge you to support the Government as it diversifies the economy for a better future for the entire Nigerian populace. You have to be fair and professional while reporting Government activities in order not to create unnecessary panic amongst the public.”
The NIMASA boss said that the maritime industry is ready to take over from oil as the leading revenue earner in the country and called on all stakeholders to look into the opportunity that abound in the sector.
“The ocean is a resource a country can leverage on to grow its economy and blessed with a coastline of about 853km and 250 nautical mile Exclusive Economic zone, we must begin to take advantage of the maritime opportunities available to us to grow our economy”.
Earlier, Abdulwaheed Odusile, who had on his entourage the Chairman of the Lagos branch of the NUJ, Mr. Deji Elumoye said that his colleagues will do more to focus on government activities geared towards revamping the economy. [myad]
