NUJ tasks govt on security, media practitioners on patriotism

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Chris Isiguzo has tasked government on the security of lives and property in the country, just as he charged media practitioners to take up the responsibility of uniting the nation at this critical time.
Isiguzo, who handed the charge at a press conference, Thursday in Abuja, maintained that the media must rise to the challenge of the moment and ensure that Nigeria remained a united entity as it navigates the challenges of insecurity.


The union leader said the need for the media to play its role effectively informed the theme of the forthcoming NUJ National Conference: “The Media, Insecurity and National Unity” scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, next week.
The Union is perturbed that the national politics is seeking to divide the country and the Media should braced up to unite the country. Similarly, terrorism and banditry should be fought relentlessly and the Media must lead the fight against these evils.


“The responsibility of government is primarily to protect life and property of its citizens and therefore it will be disastrous to allow citizens to lose confidence in its ability to deal with the situation.


“Nigeria’s ranking as one of the members of club of 10 top kidnapping countries in the world and a leading one in Africa is a source of concern for the Union especially as violence in the country has affected millions of Nigerians.
“Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have so far crossed into neighboring West African Countries as refugees and the situation is daily being aggravated by lack of adequate response from government.


“Economic well-being of Millions of Nigerians have been affected as agricultural activities have been suspended because of inadequate security. There is a clear and obvious risk of acute food insecurity in the country.
“The thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially in the North-east and Central Nigeria, has reached alarming proportions, even as these displaced Nigerians continue to compete  for scarce resources such as water, land and food.


“There are protection concerns majorly for  the vulnerable- women, children and the elderly, while  water sanitation and hygiene have become priority needs in the affected areas,” the president stated.
According to Isiguzo the theme of this Conference: The Media, Insecurity and National Unity is timely because of the pivotal role of the media as an effective  tool for addressing Issues of National Unity and Insecurity.
“…While we concede  the fact that, the fight against terrorism and banditry are extremely difficult, we believe however that the media can contribute immensely in this regard.


“There is therefore the need to come together as professionals to look for how Government can be properly guided in creating an enabling environment for free press to thrive and serve as catalyst in influencing the right attitude by all Nigerians.”
The national president noted that such move by the professional can minimize or even help in defeating terrorism and banditry in the country.He disclosed that the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, will officially declare the conference open while the Governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, would deliver the keynote address.


Speakers st the conference, he said would include the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who will present a paper on Media Against Insecurity: Upholding Ethical Standards.; just as the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), OCJ Okocha (SAN), would chair the conference.