By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The media has being commended for upholding Nigeria’s democracy and the nation’s development through accurate reportage.
Director, Press, Office of the FCT Minister, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, said during a media chat on the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, in Abuja, said journalists have aided the development of the Territory..
Ogunleye commended media practitioners for always keeping government on its toes while discharging their fundamental task of dissemination, entertaining , educating the society.
He noted that in the last seven and half years, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has worked very closely with members of the press, and together, they have been able to achieve as much as they did towards developing the FCT.
According to him, press freedom is something that is sacrosanct in Nigeria, as since the return of democracy in 1999, there has been tremendous freedom of the press, without which democracy cannot thrive.
“We don’t hear of Journalists been incarcerated or been killed, molested harassed or prevented from doing their job, he said.
“Without journalists going out to do their work, to gather facts about issues concerning the society, and to also give the government the tools to make the right decision; and members of the public the knowledge they need to continue to build their society, nothing can work.”
“I would like to use the opportunity to congratulate Journalists in the FCT, and commend them for the great work they are doing, not just here in the FCT, but across the country.”
I urge them to continue to do their job and for those here in the FCTA, as we look forward to welcoming the new FCT Administration after May 29, I will ask them to continue to cooperate with us, work together and let us build the FCT of our collective dreams”, Ogunleye said.
