“RENEWED HOPE” THE MARITIME JOURNALIST AS A SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD!

Opinion

BY INNOCENT OROK

It is no longer news that the Nigerian Maritime industry is a huge potential for both economic and human resources development. In the twenty-first century, countries, organisations and individuals are gearing up towards an indept exploitation of the potential resources of the sea, now known as Blue Economy.

This means the various countries are damn ready to dig deep into the waters, swamps, lagoons, rivers , seas and oceans to explore what they can get to develop their domains.

In Nigeria , the status quo has changed , we now have a Ministry/Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.  The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime is also anchoring his administration on “RENEWED HOPE”. That means, some new things will be happening to keep the hope of Nigerians and the Nigerian Maritime industry and its stakeholders alive . It also signified that, somebody and some people will be thinking and driving the policy direction of the Nigerian Maritime sub-sector in line with the RENEWED HOPE AGENDA.

To put it in proper perspective, the Ministry, Minister and his aides, agencies head and staff have all adjusted their seat belts to fit into the new system and to earn a good living out of it. Believe it or not, many will built new mansions in Nigeria and abroad, sponsor their children to school abroad, enjoy their lives and change their status forever.

In this system, everybody is a beneficiary except the “MARITIME JOURNALIST”. Yes that media man/woman who stress his/her brains to promote, educate, inform, set agenda and disseminate same to the world. Yes, these group of professionals who on daily basis took risks without pay or insurance cover to carryout their functions to promote this. “BENEFICIARIES” in high places, are the “Guinea Pigs” or called them “Endangered Species” who are left out in squalor.

In the Nigerian Maritime industry, press releases fly on a daily basis like the dove birds, and the Maritime Media feats on them as if there are prices to be won. Like a sheep without a Shepard, everybody struggles to report the stories in anticipation that their bread will be buttered or atleast something may come out of it. At the end, their hope is dashed and they hissed their frustrations away. Hmmmm, sorry, the Maritime Journalist is out of the equation of things, because they don’t regard you as a factor. You are only needed to be used, not to be a beneficiary.

At the 2023 World Day of Safety of Journalists, of which I was one of the discussants alongside others , I have to speak the truth that a Nigerian journalist is an “Endangered Species” and we all know that. But it’s also high time journalists take a critical look at their worth. “How much am I worth in my years or decades of practice”.?

How well am I living as a friend to a Governor, CEO etc? which I’m promoting and will wish to die to defend them at all times?. Am I worth N1million of which such CEO will dash his side-chick or am I worth N20k which is not even up to a recharge card gift for his side-chick?.

In a year, can a Maritime Journalist say out of 200 press statements I have written in favour of agencies and CEOs, I can boast of a support of something which I can make progress out of in life.? As a Maritime Journalist, if I am doing all the stories free, who pay my bills?, How do I feed and train my children? The CEO who called me his friend, am I truly his friend? Is that how he treats his friends, Pastors, Imams and allies? How much is his journalist friend worth in his budget? Can he give the N20k he gives to his media friend to his Pastor, Imam or even his side-chick?

I have refused to be convinced or agreed with the old order, that journalists only need news and information to fill their pages. So, journalists don’t need money?, they don’t need welfare and houses, they can’t do contracts? In any case, is there any profession called “CONTRACTOR”?. While can’t a Maritime Journalist be a beneficiary of the system he is working for or promoting? Why can’t he own properties, investments and live a good life?

It is high time the Maritime Journalists purged themselves and seek to value how much they are WORTH in the midst of plenty? It is another season of political benefits, who will profit the Maritime Journalists?

Untill otherwise proven, I stand to be corrected, the Nigerian Maritime Journalist is without hope in the midst of plenty. He has no hope even in the Renewed Hope agenda. He alone is to liberate himself or walloped in penury as a sheep without a Shepard.

*Innocent Orok, a Journalist writes in from Lagos. Whatapp 08034489892
Email roamrepporters@gmail.com.