By Valentine Amanze
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has commended the role being played by journalists in Nigeria, who are exposed to various hazards.
The governor, in a statement by Mary Noel-Berje, the
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, gave the advice in Minna as Nigerian journalists join their colleagues globally to mark the “2020 World Press Freedom Day”.
The governor, who underscored the pivotal role of the press in nation building, acknowledged that it was offering the society a great service through information dissemination.
He described this year’s theme, “Journalism Without Fear or Favour,” as apt, stressing that, as ‘Fourth Estate’ of the Realm, the press must develop thick, uncompromising skin in the overall societal interests.
The governor pointed out that the press had been in the forefront in the fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), admonishing them to take all precautionary measures as they continue to enlighten the public about the danger posed by the pandemic, urging them not to relent.
Governor Sani Bello also praised the press for their sustained reportage in conflict regions such as the fight against insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, urging them to trade with caution.
The governor saluted the resilience of the living and slained journalists and said that such journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty should also be treated as heroes in the country.
He urged the press to always imbibe developmental journalism by giving balanced report and advised them to identify the unqualified, ‘bad eggs’ among them and sanitize the profession to continue to earn the respect it has been accorded with in the society.
The governor, however, assured members of the press in the state of the support of his administration through the provision of unhampered access to information towards the enhancement of their professional functionality.