The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has confessed that most of the major decisions he had taken so far were as a result of encouragement from his friends in the media.
The minister, who received in audience, members of the Forum of FCT Broadcast Editors in his office, stressed that media people have been part of his guiding principles
Muhammad Bello acknowledged that every stakeholder in the project Nigeria has done its bit in one way or the other but that the role of the media since pre-independent Nigeria cannot be over emphasized.
“The Nigerian media has tremendously contributed to the socio-economic and political development of the country just as it has remained the conscious of the nation.
Acknowledging also that he has been enjoying what he called ‘robust’ partnership with the media, he said that some of his policy decisions have been greatly reinvigorated by the feedback he received from journalists covering the FCT Administration.
He described the media as the eyes and ears of the society saying that their profound knowledge of the city is one that generates a lot of vibrancy in both the public and private sphere.
He called for continuous support and collaboration from the media practitioners to strengthen institutions in the FCT, adding: “you have been and will continue to be the eyes and the ears of the residents of the FCT. Your knowledge of the city is obviously much deeper and I have had course to follow the activities of most of your organizations, the feedback and the support you give, the vibrancy that you generate in our beautiful city and community.
“Since I came on board as the Minister, we have tried as much as possible to convey a message to the wider community that Abuja is for all and therefore, Abuja should reflect the standard of a city that we all aspire to say it is ours. That is why in all of the policies we initiate, we try to encourage people to own it, simply because we have realized that a Minister and a team of 50 or hundred senior officials cannot run the city alone. It has to be something that all of us should consciously believe in.”
Earlier, Head of News, Rhythm FM, who is the Convener and Chairman of the FCT Forum of Broadcast Editors, Mr. Tijjani Yunusa, said that the Forum is ready to partner with the FCT Administration.
He said that the Forum has found Malam Muhammad Bello to be a silent achiever and would continue to collaborate with his Administration. [myad]
