…URGES MEDIA PRACTITIONERS TO GET DIRECT INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENT SOURCES
By Okosun Dennis
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured journalists that he would continue to listen to feedbacks from them in order to give good governance to the people of the state.
He said this while receiving visiting members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) led by its President, Samson Oki, on Thursday.
He urged them to make available use of the avalanche of government social platforms and the Ministry of Information to get direct information before publication.
Represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment and Community Relations, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adeni-Awosika at the Ministry of Information, Alausa on behalf of the Commissioner of Information, admonishes NAOSNP as a credible national association of journalists covering security not to be desperately in a hurry to release information to the public but ensure such is verified to be “true, authentic and correct.”
“Don’t be in a hurry to release news stories, rather go to relevant platforms or government agencies for clarifications. No doubt, things have degenerated very fast and we at the Ministry of Information is doing our best to send out reports, press releases through our various social media handles and platforms.
On youths restiveness, he called on journalists to join in the vanguard of educating and enlightening them against some anti-social behaviours and malfeasances noting that “the more the youths are engaged, the more they would shun social vices.
“Go deeper into the society to educate – both the educated and uneducated – youths. What played out during the #EndSARS protects that led to the destruction of government facilities were unfortunate that shouldn’t have happened despite the state government’s proactive steps to appeal to the youths and listen to their demands.”
Earlier, the President of NAOSNP, Mr. Samson Oki in his brief solicited for partnership and collaboration with the state government and its agencies to drive the process of guaranteeing the security and safety of Lagosians.
“We as credible security journalists will not rest in our oars to ensure unbiased reportage of government activities hence we are asking relevant government agencies to give us timely and prompt responses anytime we call on you for facts or need clarifications.
“The challenge of the #EndSARS was as a result of fake news on the airwaves. Unfortunately, “Citizen Journalism”; which has almost everybody becoming a journalist, did not help the situation, hence the escalation of issues that shouldn’t have been the case.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on our members and other media practitioners to shun fake news and stop using news items that cannot be verified or from a credible government or other sources.
“At NAOSNP, we are credible and must always confirm the news. We are bothered about fake news and we shouldn’t break the news that is not confirmed.
“However, the government must also build public confidence and trust. Paradoxically, the most challenging thing is the youths. They need re-orientation and enlightenment. They are eager to know everything and this is where the Ministry of Information and Strategy comes in. They want to be carried along hence you must do more.”
In his remarks, the Public Relations Officer of NAOSNP, Mr. Eric Elezuo observed that events in the past revealed the gap between the government and the governed emphasizing that it can only be filled through collaboration and partnership.
“NAOSNP is here to bridge the gap between information dissemination emanating from the government and the story getting to the final consumers. It is what the people get that they believe especially when it comes from a credible association like NAOSNP.”
While applauding Governor Sanwo-Olu for granting the association audience, Elezuo pointed out that “he is a listening Governor for which we are immensely impressed. We would keep up the opportunity to partner with you,” he reiterated.
On his part, a Board member of NAOSNP, Okosun Dennis called on the government to address the nuisance value of cult groups as they are known for their notorious nocturnal activities at Bariga, Ojo, Somolu, Ajah, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle and other touts such as Agberos for sundry clashes in the state.
“The Agberos are very audacious. They engage in illicit drug use and all manners of smoking and alcoholism. At Eleko in Ibeju-Lekki, they are very notorious. We saw the clashes at Obalende, Ojo and other places recently. The activities of various cult groups at Ojo, Ajah, Ikorodu are terrible and worthy of mention as well.
“If Lagos must remain and continue to maintain the Creed: “Centre of Excellence”, people’s lives must be safe for businesses to thrive and the only way to guarantee that is for the government to be much more proactive in dealing with some of their malfeasances,” he emphasized.
He, however, commended the Lagos State Government for providing logistics and vehicles to the Nigerian Police through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) recently.
Also, Mrs. Dayo Anthony pleaded with the government to provide more road signs in the state as well as to demarcate properly with visible signs roads that are one-way drive from others to minimise some ugly scenes between LASTMA officials and police Task Force.
Responding to the array of complaints, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adeni-Awosika explained that the problem of Agberos is very complex noting that it is even worse now that they have multiple Unions like the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); National Union of Road Transport Employee; and Graduate Taxi Drivers.
While appealing to members of the public to show some modicum of respect for government agents like the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA); Lagos State Neighbourhood Security Corps (LNSC), added that disrespecting those assigned to carry out some functions on behalf of the government often cause some fractions that perch them against the abusers.
Other Directors at the Ministry of Information and Strategy present during the courtesy visit included: Mr. Olumide Sogunle, Director, Public Affairs; Mrs. Funmilayo Adesanya, Director, Information Production; and Mr. Olajide Atansuyi, Director, Social Media. Other members of NAOSNP included Miss Akinleye Toyin; Ibikunle Tokunbo and Bekeme Kazeem.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/we-would-continue-to-listen-to-feedback-from-journalists-gov-sanwo-olu/
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