Nigerian journalists have been urged to beam more light on the energy and maritime sectors of the economy with the aim of harvesting investment opportunities in those areas. This was stated at the Energy and Maritime Reporters (EMR) of Rivers State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) seminar/award ceremony held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
An investor, My-ACE China, who made the call, said such media reportage would boost the nation’s economy.
According to him, there are opportunities in the sector, especially from the coastal areas, waiting to be harnessed.
China said he was proud to be associated with the EMR and the event because of his passion for development-driven journalism and his frequent calls for coverage of positive aspects of Rivers State, as well as, call for more coverage of investment opportunities in the state.
He said he was happy that a wing of the Rivers NUJ has found time to mirror the maritime sector so that more attention could be beamed on the Blue Economy in Rivers State.
China said the award of Best Maritime Reporter, sponsored by Dr Emi-Membere-Otaji Foundation, resonated with his plans in that direction so that journalists would be encouraged to push deeper and harder in different segments of the economy in the state.
He urged businesses and investors in the state to give more awards in news reporting and support journalists in Rivers State at this point in time to focus more in promoting peace and attracting investments in the state.
The Vice President of Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, said the Niger Delta, which constitutes more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s coastline, has enough human and logistics resources to lead the maritime industry.
Dr Membere-Otaji spoke after handing the Best Maritime Reporters Awards in Port Harcourt to the winners and after his firm, Elshcon Nigeria Limited, bagged the industry award of the year.
One of such solutions, Dr. Membere-Otaji said, was the use of locally-made and manned flat-bottomed tugboats to move containers away from the Apapa Port in Lagos to other areas where trucks could pick them to ease the traffic gridlock at the nation’s sea ports.
He advised on the use of locally-built flat-bottomed barges, tugboats, etc, to move containers away from the ports to terminals so as to ease the gridlock. He said this is because those are the things they use in ferrying the oil and gas tools to the rigs.
Also, Dr Charles Wami led other major stakeholders in the coastal states to demand more professional attention to safety at sea and other industry safety issues. This is as the stakeholders called on regulatory bodies to intensify safety measures to curb the alarming rate of marine accidents and casualties in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Experts at the event stressed the need for urgent action to address maritime safety concerns.
Speaking, the Managing Director of Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, Dr Wami, emphasised the pressing need for enhanced safety measures in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Wami, represented by Dr. Egben Okore, also advocated for community engagement, suggesting that maritime professionals should lead public safety campaigns and donate life-saving equipment to improve conditions at jetties.
The theme of the seminar was: ‘Understanding the Maritime Subsector and Issues in the Coastal States’; with subtheme, ‘Maritime Safety Concerns and Approaches’.
Chairman of the occasion and National Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA), who is also the HOD, Marine Engineering Dept, Rivers State University, Dr Daniel Tamunodukobipi, expressed huge worry over what he called appointment of non-professionals in sensitive maritime certification positions.
He said this has often brought ridicule to the Nigerian maritime industry from around the world, just as he said accidents at sea can be reduced if certification and supervision were carried out properly by experts and professionals.
Chairman of Rivers State chapter of NUJ, Stanley Jobs Stanley, called for more spotlight on maritime institutions in the oil region, regretting that all attention is paid to those in Lagos.
In his remarks, the chairman of EMR, Martins Giadom, said the objective of the seminar is to start aggressive training of maritime reporters in the coastal areas.
