The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Wednesday called on the Nigerian media to report political events in the country objectively and accurately.
Mr Davidson Aminu, Acting Deputy Director, Political and Civil Education in the agency, stated this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said that the sensitisation programme of the agency ahead of the 2015 polls was designed to enlighten journalists on the need to avoid reporting maliciously during the forthcoming election.
“The Nigerian media outlets must embrace the sensitisation programme of NOA to prevent unethical reportage during the 2015 elections.
“It will be recalled that, in the past, we have had cases of a media personnel going ahead to announce the result of an election even before INEC did.
“Each time a media house does this, it sparks off crises in the country.
“We are therefore holding the sensitisation programmes to draw the attention of media personnel to the need for patriotic and considerate reportage of political events in the interest of peace.’’
He, however, promised that the agency was working hard to revive its regular jingles on television and radio to facilitate the awareness of Nigerians on “Do the right thing’’ during the election.
“We have also produced jingles, but the only thing I will say is that we have not been able to cover all the areas in the country.
“Before long, we should be able to take over all the air waves and begin to tell Nigerians what is expected of them as far as the election is concerned,’’ he added.
NAN
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