By Efe Onodjae

The Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, has called for a stronger partnership with the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria, MARCON, to promote responsible reporting and strengthen maritime security in Nigeria.

Mustapha made the call on Thursday, when he received the executive members of MARCON, led by its President, Ismail Aniemu, on a courtesy visit to the command.

The FOC stressed the importance of accurate and responsible journalism in the maritime sector, describing the industry as critical to Nigeria’s economic development and blue economy aspirations.

According to him, the maritime sector, including oil and gas, maritime trade, commerce and customs, contributes significantly to the country’s revenue and foreign exchange earnings, making accurate reporting of activities within the sector essential.

He said journalists had an important role to play in holding government agencies and other stakeholders accountable, particularly by exposing irregularities and drawing attention to challenges confronting seafarers and other maritime workers.

Mustapha commended MARCON for going beyond conventional news reporting to organise conferences and seminars aimed at educating stakeholders and promoting discussions on the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

He said responsible journalism could also serve as a check on excesses by government agencies and other actors in the maritime industry.

“Excesses of agencies are being checked by reporters. If you get the news and you say it, the people engaging in not-so-good things will check themselves because they know that you will hold them again,” he said.

The FOC also disclosed that the Nigerian Navy had been undertaking medical and educational outreaches in coastal communities as part of efforts to strengthen its relationship with residents and address some of their socio-economic challenges.

He urged journalists to report such initiatives responsibly to improve public understanding of the Navy’s role in coastal communities and contribute to national development.

Earlier, Aniemu commended the Nigerian Navy, particularly the Western Naval Command, for its contribution to improving security in Nigeria’s maritime domain and suppressing criminal activities in the country’s waters.

He described the command as a critical security arm responsible for protecting Nigeria’s maritime environment and infrastructure, noting that the country’s maritime security situation had improved significantly in recent years, particularly in the western waters.

Aniemu said the Navy had played a significant role in the successes recorded under the Deep Blue Project, particularly in efforts to tackle piracy, stowaway activities and illegal, unreported and unregulated, IUU, fishing in Nigerian waters.

He said maritime correspondents were important stakeholders in Nigeria’s security and economic development and had a responsibility to maintain a robust relationship with the Navy and other stakeholders in the sector.

The MARCON president described journalism as both a profession and a civic responsibility, saying the organisation would continue to use its platforms to set the agenda for discussions on critical issues affecting the maritime industry.

Aniemu also said MARCON had a responsibility to project Nigeria positively through balanced reporting to both Nigerians and the international community, noting that the country’s waters remained important to the fishing industry and other maritime activities.