Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper and Arise Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has said that the ongoing economic reforms by the President Tinubu-led administration should be implemented with a human face.
He also called on the federal government to protect the nation’s economy, adding that the four Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)-owned refineries should be fixed to compete with the Dangote Refinery to make petroleum products available and affordable.
Obiagbena, who spoke as chairman of the 2024 All Nigerian Editors Conference, held in Yenagoa, said that times are hard in the country and advised media practitioners to learn how to cope with the current situation.
The conference was themed, “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country.”
He enjoined the federal government to tailor its policies and programmes to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable while encouraging Nigerians to support the ongoing reforms.
“If we are going to use whatever means to deal with the oil mafias, we should keep our refineries alive. If you say you want to stop monopoly, then our four refineries must work. Let those four refineries compete with Dangote Refinery.
“We challenge minister of Information and Bayo Onanuga to get the refineries working. Everybody is feeling the pain in the country. The time is hard but Nigerian journalists are harder; so, you have to be thorough to cope with the time.
“I can see that the future can be better if we give Tinubu’s reform a face.
We should support the reform but we must make sure that the vulnerable are supported.
“We are ready for the change but the first step is to put our house in order; let us fix Nigeria. That is the first thing to do and let’s also work hard to ensure that we also protect our Industries,” he said.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu appreciated the longstanding legacy of the media industry which he said has deeply contributed to nation-building, adding that the democracy that the country enjoys today would not be possible without the media.
Represented by the minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, President Tinubu commended all the veteran journalists who played very important roles in ushering in the age of enduring democracy in Nigeria.
