FG pledges support for Press Council’s national economic, tourism compendium

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has pledged the Federal Government’s support for the Nigeria Press Council’s (NPC) national compendium on economic and tourism potentials across Nigeria.

Shettima declared the Federal Government’s support when he received a delegation from the NPC, led by its Executive Secretary, Dr Dili Ezughah, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, on Friday in Abuja.

The vice-president described President Bola Tinubu as a friend of the media who was a firm believer of the independence of the press.
He said that Tinubu administration had in the past three years continued to promote an environment that was conducive for journalists to carry out their duties without harassment.
Shettima, who said that Tinubu had remained a friend of the media, recalled how the president had used his personal resources to assist media organisations.
According to him, people have been making libelous and provocative utterances, with incisive vituperations, against the administration and are allowed to get away with them because the president is very tolerant.
Shettima said, ” The president is a friend of the media. He used to assist them from his personal resources, with newsprints and other support mechanisms.
” He is also a publisher. So, he knows the ecosystem very well, and he believes in the independence of the press.
“For the past three years, have you heard of any harassment of journalists? His tolerance threshold is so high that people who are making incendiary remarks are allowed to have their day for peace to reign in the country. “
He pledged presidential support for the council’s bid to get official national endorsement of the publication it is currently working on.
Shettima also promised to reach out to governors of the 36 states of the federation to key into the project.
” The subnationals own the land, own the people. Their role is very pivotal in really pushing this country forward,” he stated.
The vice-president emphasised why a buy-in from the governors is pivotal to the book project.
He further said d that the national compendium titled, “Nigeria: Documenting the Economic and Tourism Profiles of the 36 States and the FCT,” was a welcome development.
The vice-president expressed hope that the publication would sell Nigeria to the world.
Shettima said, ” If you go to other countries, you will see similar books at the airport stands. In terms of the quality of the job, the writings are so top-notch that we can embrace it as our national treasure.
” And see to it that it is massively printed and circulated to our embassies,” the vice-president observed.”
Earlier, the Minister of Aryt, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, thanked the vice-president for his continued leadership and support for initiatives that strengthen Nigeria’s economic and cultural positioning.
According to her, the publication is particularly significant for the tourism and creative economy sectors.
She said that the Nigeria’s tourism assets, cultural heritage, and creative industries represented major drivers of economic diversification.
She, however, explained that for these sectors to attract investment and gain global recognition, they must be documented and presented in a structured and credible format such as the compendium.
This, according to her, will bring visibility to Nigeria’s cultural sites, tourism destinations, creative hubs, and heritage assets across all thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Also, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Jatau, expressed gratitude to the country’s leadership, noting that if the document is approved, every state is likely to benefit based on its respective tourism potential.

For his part, the executive secretary of the NPC, also expressed gratitude to the vice-president for granting an audience to the NPC Planning Committee.

He acknowledged the consistent support of the vice-president for sub-national economic development and national coordination.

He explained that the national compendium being developed would spotlight Nigeria’s economic and tourism profiles and required the vice-president’s strategic direction on the document.