Alkali Charges Journalists On Balanced Reportage Of Transportation Sector
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali has charged journalists to ensure balanced reportage that would market the essential services carried out by the transportation sector.
The Senator made the call on Thursday at the 4th edition of the annual workshop organised by the Abuja Transportation and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA) themed: “Harnessing the Aviation, Railway, Marine and Blue Economy Sectors for Sustainable Transportation in Nigeria”.
Alkali who was represented by his Technical Adviser, Dr Shuaib Danwaka, tasked the media to remain diligent in discharging it’s public information dissemination role.
“It is significant to remind you especially during this annual event of the need to embark on balanced media reporting that markets the essential services carried out by the transportation sector to support the economy and realise the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“You must therefore remain committed, diligent and professional in discharging your public informative disseminating role to carry the teeming Nigerians along in appreciating the dynamics of the present administration’s transformative agenda of prioritising transportation on top scale of its governance strategy.
He added that, it is my delight to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Transportation will continue to support your operations to the extent that you remain committed in upholding the tenets of transparent journalism which tells Nigerians the huge achievements of execution of successful ongoing road and rail modernisation projects across the country as clear testimony of the giant stride of this administration in support of the growth of the transportation sector.
He commended the association picking a themed that will respond to national realities which recognised transportation as a strong enabler of economic advancement.
“I hope that the event will address the critical issues that constitute impediments to the effectiveness of land, air, and marine transportation in Nigeria.”
“As the event is conducted at the time of celebrating Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, it is expected to come up with innovative ways of mass communicating ideas, techniques, and milestones of the transport sector to showcase the Association’s pivotal role in public image-making of the sector as a dominant pillar of the nation’s sustainable economic growth,” he said.
The Guest Speaker of the event, Dr Emeka Ekengwu, said there is need for our country to take full advantage of transportation for national growth “There are two important factors in every country’s transportation system that make it successful, which are availability and Affordability; if we portray these factors, we can say Nigeria is left behind in Marine, Rail, Aviation, and Road. Poor transportation system has contributed to the high cost of living which the country needs to address by Linking all the parts of the country with rail lines and construction roads for the movement of food items across the country but with the policies put in place by the present administration, we believe the transportation system of Nigeria will be transformed and contribute to national development.”
On his part, ATACA Chairman Leonard Oru said, “In harnessing the Aviation, Railway, Marine and Blue Economy sectors for Sustainable Transportation in Nigeria, Land Transportation and the Railway sub-sectors should be guarded and funded properly while seeking collaborations around the globe.
“It is my firm belief that to achieve adequate communication, enlightenment, feedback and getting the expected change in perception of governance by citizens, the budget of ministries and agencies in this sector should cover all facets of the Media, including training of Press units’ staff and external media partners, as well as increased involvement of ATACA members to inspections and regular Media parley,” he said.
