Journalism is strategic to national development – Peterside

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that journalism is strategic to the growth and development of any nation.

The DG stated this when he played host to members of the Lagos Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the Chairman, Mr. Deji Elumoye at the Head Quarters of the Agency in Lagos.

Highlighting the importance of information to the development of nations, Dr. Peterside averred that nations are built and destroyed by the way information is gathered, managed and disseminated.

Dr. Peterside therefore charged the Union to ensure balanced reportage of national affairs, noting that their role in the society is strategic and cannot be ignored.

While assuring the body of NIMASA’s commitment to the repositioning of the maritime industry, the NIMASA DG said that “I want to assure you that NIMASA will collaborate with partners to move the maritime industry forward in Nigeria, we understand that the maritime industry has the capacity to play a critical role in repositioning the economy of our country especially in this time of recession”.

Dr. Peterside therefore enjoined them to continue to highlight the efforts of NIMASA in engendering the development of Nigeria’s maritime industry saying “as journalists, you will help enlighten our country men and women on the important role the maritime industry is playing and the potentials in the industry to contribute to the economic growth of our nation”.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Lagos State NUJ, Mr. Deji Elumoye congratulated the DG on his appointment to manage the affairs of NIMASA as the nation’s maritime regulator.

He lauded the repositioning efforts of the DG and his Management team and assured him of their unalloyed support in taking the maritime industry to greater heights both locally and internationally.

“As journalists, we don’t just give credit, most times we want to criticize but from what we have been able to see and hear, we believe with your appointment and with the activities you have been able to do so far we have a round peg in a round hole. And to some of us it is not surprising because as journalists who have followed your antecedents in the last 12 years, we know what you can offer,” the NUJ Chairman noted.