Elizabeth Vincent, Yenegoa
The technical adviser on media to the Bayelsa state government, Dr Wisdom Ikuli, has called for stronger collaboration between the government and media practitioners, stressing that the media remains indispensable to good governance, accountability and societal development.
Ikuli made the call while addressing journalists during an engagement at his office, where he assured media professionals of an open door policy and promised to provide a conducive working environment for journalists to carry out their professional responsibilities.
He described the office as a meeting point for media practitioners, noting that arrangements were being made to equip it with necessary facilities, including free internet access, to enable journalists to conduct research, write reports and undertake other professional assignments.
According to him the initiative is designed to strengthen regular interaction between the government and the media and promote a more effective working relationship.
He said,for any society to make meaningful progress it must prioritise the media,we want media practitioners to feel at home here Whenever you need a quiet place to write, conduct research or carry out your professional assignments you are welcome to come here and work.
“We are putting the necessary facilities in place and some of them are expected to arrive soon,we are also providing free Wi-Fi to ensure that journalists can work conveniently,the media adviser, who expressed profound respect for journalism described it as one of the most important professions in society, adding that journalists deserved recognition for their sacrifices, particularly during difficult periods.”
He recalled the vandalism and collapse of 19 electricity transmission towers in Bayelsa State about two years ago, commending journalists who travelled through difficult terrain and waterways to report the incident and its consequences.
“According to him, the incident plunged the state into darkness attracting public criticism of the government, despite the challenges involved in restoring electricity,he explained that governor Douye Diri had to mobilise resources and provide the necessary support to enable contractors to return to the affected sites and restore power supply.”
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Ikuli urged journalists to go beyond surface-level assessments of government activities, stressing the importance of visiting project locations and communities to obtain firsthand information before drawing conclusions.”
He argued that an assessment of the state’s development should not be limited to Yenagoa, but should also cover rural communities and remote areas where major infrastructure projects were being executed.
“Somebody may drive around Yenagoa and conclude that the government is doing nothing but when you travel to Angiama, visit the inner communities of Yenagoa, take the Nembe-Brass road or visit other parts of the state you will appreciate the level of investment in infrastructure development.”
The technical adviser recalled that about 75 per cent of Bayelsa state was previously riverine, leaving several communities accessible only by speedboats and canoes,he noted that residents in some areas had to spend as long as eight hours travelling by canoe to reach their destinations.
He said the difficult terrain had posed serious challenges to healthcare delivery, particularly during medical emergencies, resulting in avoidable deaths among pregnant women and other patients who struggled to access medical facilities.
Ikuli, however, attributed significant improvements in road connectivity to the Diri administration, claiming that about 75 per cent of the state was now accessible by road.
He cited the Angiama-Opuruma road and bridge project as one of the administration’s major infrastructure interventions, describing the 630-metre bridge as a landmark project undertaken by a state government.
He explained that the difficult geographical conditions in communities such as Nembe and Angiama required extensive engineering work, including land reclamation, soil filling and other preparatory activities before construction could commence.
“According to him, such projects demonstrate the scale of investment and technical commitment required to overcome Bayelsa’s geographical challenges,the media adviser also recalled negative narratives that had historically portrayed Bayelsa as inaccessible and underdeveloped, saying that the state’s development challenges had sometimes been exaggerated through unverified stories and stereotypes.”
He maintained that the state had made considerable progress in security, describing Bayelsa as one of the most peaceful states in the country,speaking from his experience in the security sector, Ikuli said the prevailing security situation should be recognised and properly reported, while acknowledging the responsibility of journalists to scrutinise government policies and activities.
On the relationship between the government and the media, he called for constructive engagement, urging journalists to communicate their concerns and observations through appropriate channels,he stressed that the government’s call for partnership should not be interpreted as an attempt to suppress independent journalism or prevent critical reporting.
“Democracy requires people to ask questions, express their opinions and hold those in authority accountable,I commend the media and encourage us to sustain this relationship, where there are issues or concerns, communicate them to us so that we can address them. Nobody will be neglected,” he assured.
Ikuli also proposed the introduction of a health insurance arrangement for journalists in the state, suggesting a possible partnership between the government, media stakeholders and private healthcare providers, including Family Care Hospital.
He said such an initiative would enable journalists, particularly elderly practitioners, to access routine medical examinations and healthcare services without bearing the full financial burden.
The adviser further highlighted the strategic importance of media in shaping public perception, attracting investments and promoting development, using china’s international media strategy as an example.
He observed that china’s investment in international broadcasting platforms, including china global television network (CGTN), had helped the country project its achievements, promote its economic opportunities and strengthen its global influence.
According to him, the experience demonstrates that governments cannot achieve meaningful development while neglecting the power of strategic communication and international media engagement.
He also identified security, military strength and media influence as major factors behind the global prominence of the united states, arguing that china’s growing international presence underscores the importance of effective communication.
Ikuli insisted that the achievements of the Diri administration had not received sufficient media attention, citing developments in infrastructure, sports, education and healthcare.
He noted that Bayelsa had recorded improvements in sports, with the state increasingly competing with established sporting states, including Delta, at national competitions and festivals.
On education and technical manpower development he said the government had recognised the need to address the shortage of skilled artisans, including tilers, carpenters and other technical professionals, who were previously sourced from other states and neighbouring countries.
He explained that the establishment and strengthening of technical colleges were part of efforts to develop local manpower and equip young people with practical skills that could make them competitive in the labour market.
Ikuli expressed optimism that Bayelsa would, in the coming years, become a source of skilled technical manpower for other parts of Nigeria and beyond.
He also projected a promising future for the Bayelsa medical university (BMU), saying the institution had the potential to produce highly trained medical professionals and contribute significantly to healthcare development,he urged journalists to give adequate attention to the state’s development initiatives while maintaining professionalism, accuracy, fairness and their constitutional responsibility to hold public officials accountable.
