By Uzor Odigbo
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 light on government policies in their reportage.
He gave the advice yesterday at the 2nd All Maritime Journalists Retreat held in Badagry, Lagos.
Saraki called on the members of the fourth estate of the realm to shed light on legislative, infrastructural and policy changes that would attract domestic and foreign investment in the maritime sector.
The Senate president, who was represented at the event by Chief Kayode Odunaro, said that the negative notion bandied about the maritime industry was due to preconception or reliance on past policies and processes which might have been ineffective at the time, added that such had hampered the development of the sector.
His words: “Over the past few decades, Nigeria has been on the receiving end of several negative notions bandied around regarding the maritime sector which have undoubtedly hampered its development.
“Many of these have been based on preconceptions or a reliance of past policies and processes which may have been ineffective at the time.
“Having said, the solution to changing this negative nrrative rest largely 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,” he explained.