Mr Osita Okechukwu, Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) on Monday urged broadcasters to publicise President Muhammadu Buhari’s Agricultural Revolution designed to contain global crisis like the Covid-19.
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Okechukwu made the call when the executives members of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), led by its newly elected Chairman, Mrs Sa’a Ibrahim, paid him a courtesy call at VON Headquarters, in Abuja.
The DG noted that the 1999 Constitution as amended, mandated the media to criticise bad government policies and project good government policies.
“Buhari’s agrarian revolution is one good policy that broadcasters should market for the collective good of all.”
He said that Buhari as a former Oil Minister, had watched the vagaries of international oil price, which could be relied upon and reasoned that the best option was to diversify the economy by investing heavily in modern agricultural techniques.
He said since 1970, no President had ever devoted energy and invested in agriculture as much as Buhari.
“Yes there are challenges confronting Buhari’s agrarian revolution like herdsmen and farmers clashes and reluctance of youths to key in.
“However, information is what is needed for our youths to buy into Buhari’s agrarian revolution and to constantly remind government of the imperative to curb herdsmen and farmers clashes.
“Permit me to appeal that in crisis time as we have today, we broadcasters should as a matter of urgent national importance publicise the ongoing agricultural revolution, which one christened Buhari’s Agrarian Revolution (BUGREV).
“One dubbed it a revolution because it is a policy designed to contain global crisis like the Covid-19,” he said.
Earlier, the new BON Chairman of BON, Sa’a Ibrahim, pledged the commitment of the organisation to publicise policies and programmes of government that are geared toward improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
Ibrahim who described BON as a critical information agent that key into activities as they unfold in the country, assured that the organisation would use its various medium to educate the public on the risk factors associated with covid-19.
She commended the Federal Government for its efforts toward curtailing the spread of covid-19 in the country.
Ibrahim, who stressed the need for better synergy between BON and VON to project the policies of government, commended VON for assisting BON in many areas including manpower.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BON is an umbrella body of both private and public radio, television stations and cables.