By: Awajis Josiah-Chijindu
The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),has visited the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),Port Harcourt Regional Office on familiarisation tour.
Addressing the NUPRC Regional Coordinator,Dr Musa Zagi and his Management Team,the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh said having been recently elected into office, the executive deemed it necessary to pay a courtesy visit on the Company,being the regulators of the nation's oil and gas industry, especially in the upstream sector.
He told the host that based on their important role in managing the oil and gas industry, which is the mainstay of the country's economy,there is need for NUJ to partner with NUPRC for maximum productivity.
The Chairman stressed that the NUJ leadership has concluded arrangements to organise a Media Summit in October,2025,with emphasis on Rivers State after oil.
Comrd Bazia further said that the theme of the summit will be built around the blue economy and tourism,citing the white sand beach and wildlife along Andoni-Oyorokoto/Bonny axis of Rivers State as typical natural tourism attraction centres for that purpose.
This,he said will attract investments to the State and create jobs for the teeming unemployed people.
The Chairman added that the Council under his watch is poised to changing the narrative from incident reportage to development journalism.
"We are moving away from incident or negative reportage to development journalism.
This will no doubt attract investments and create jobs for our people.
"NUJ therefore is opened to partnering with you in that regard,having known the crucial role NUPRC plays in regulating the oil and gas, especially the upstream,"Comrd Bazia said.
Responding,the Regional Coordinator of NUPRC,Dr Musa Zagi thanked NUJ for the visit,noting that if for nothing else his organisation should benefit from NUJ,as its next door neighbour.
He commended the Bazia led executive for initiating the visit, describing it as apt.
The Regional Coordinator however lamented the increasing incidents of wilful destruction of their trunklines and craze for compensation, despite the Petroleum Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Dr Zagi said it is on this note,that NUPRC Port Harcourt Regional Office is excited hearing that NUJ has planned to change the narrative from incident reportage to development Journalism.
He urged the Union to sensitise the people on the need to eschew from wilful vandalisation of the nation's oil and gas facilities, pointing out that most of their trunklines are out of service,occasioned by vandalism.
He added that ironically, while production decreases, population and expenses soar,to the detriment of the nation's economy.
"You're welcome to our office. Regrettably production is decreasing,while expenses and population are on the rise.
This has incidentally increased trucking on our roads,since almost all our trunklines are out of service. It is in this light,that your visit to us becomes apt.
"Again your decision to change the narrative from incident reportage to developmental journalism should be commended by all.
So we are excited by that cheering news," Dr Zagi said.
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