By Jimoh Babatunde

Lagos—Security  agencies in the country have been urged to provide the necessary protection for the safety of journalists during and after the coming elections.

The executive secretary, Nigerian Press Council, Mr. Nnamdi Njemanze, made the call, yesterday, in Lagos at a workshop on Effective Coverage and Reportage of 2015 general elections.

Speaking on the hazard journalists face in covering elections and carrying out their constitutional roles, Njemanze noted that the role of media is critical in making elections a success.

“As moderators of the political discussion, it is the duty of the media to interrogate politicians and their political parties on how the various promises embedded in their manifestos would be actualized if voted into power.”

Njemanze called on the media ”to lead the conversation on the state of our socio-economic and political development if the dreams of good life for Nigerian people will be actualized.

“To achieve this, the media will beam searchlight on candidates and articulate issues that define the political debate as the parties and their candidates canvass for the people ‘s vote.”

“We will appeal to the security agencies to make use of the initiative of the newly-formed National Monitoring Network on Safety of Journalists to provide the necessary cover and protection for the safety of journalists during and after the elections.”