NCC EVC urges Editors to use media to promote peace, stability
By Ibiyemi Mathew
The Executive Vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof.Umar Danbatta has urged editors and media managers to make use of their media platforms to promote peace and stability in the nation.
Delivering a goodwill message at the All Nigeria Editors Confernev held yesterday in Abuja,the EVC noted that “because most newspapers or broadcast media also have online versions, the Nigerian Communications Commission strongly advocates responsible use of the internet to carry out personal, business and other professional activities in the way and manner as to promote unity, peaceful co-existence and cohesion in the society.”
Speaking further he added that, “in times of crisis, a lot of people look up to the media to provide vital information that will help them in making informed decisions that create stability in emotional management, rather than take actions that result in pandemonium.”
Danbatta also urged the editors to ensure the effective training of media professionals on specialised reporting areas such as conflict/crisis reporting on a continuous basis.
Danbatta also highlighted that the 112 Emergency Number managed by NCC’s Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) established across the country, was one of the Commission’s contributions to efforts by government, the media and other stakeholders in addressing conflict situations or emergencies in Nigeria.
The NCC boss further assured the media stakeholders of the commission’s collaboration with the media in many fronts towards creating an environment where they seamlessly leverage digital infrastructure to improve on news gathering, processing and dissemination activities in order to inform and educate the citizens on happenings around them timely, accurately and adequately.
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Mustapha Isah also urged the editors to tone down the publication of the activities of terrorists and bandits.
He said too much light on the actions of the insurgents as against the wins of the Nigerian army, was publicity to the groups which fuels their ego.
The Guild’s President said the conference served as a platform where editors converged with relevant stakeholders to discuss national issues and propose solutions to them.
Isah maintained that terrorism and banditry strive on publicity and urged editors and media managers to rather use the media in projecting the noble achievements of the Nigerian military in the war against insurgency.
