The Minister of Transportation Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali has charged transportation journalists to be balanced in their reportage even as he pledged the ministry’s partnership with them on their programmes.
He made the commitment on Thursday during the 4th Annual Seminar of the Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA) held in Abuja.
The seminar had the theme “Harnessing the Aviation, Railway, Marine and Blue Economy Sectors for Sustainable Transportation in Nigeria”.
Represented by the Technical Adviser in the Ministry of Transportation, Dr Shuaib Danwaka, the Minister said
“Let me use this medium to congratulate ATACA for chosen a theme that will respond to national and global realities which recognised transportation as strong enabler of economic growth. It is my hope that the event will address the critical issues that constitute impediments towards effectiveness of land, air and marine transportation in Nigeria” he stated..
He further said “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 dominant pillar of the nation’s sustainable economic growth.”
“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” he admonished.
“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 charged.
The minister assured 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.”
