We Will Partner With You, Delta SSG Tells ACNPN

The Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Chief Festus Agas, has assured the umbrella body for publishers in the State, under the aegis of Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Council that the State Government will partner with them, noting that grass root newspapers and magazines are veritable channels through which they can communicate the Okowa-led administration’s programmes to the people.

Festus Agas who said this at Asaba when he played host to members of the association in his office, added that grass root publishers in the state should, apart from educating, sensitizing and entertaining their readers, also endeavor to be a feedback avenue from their readers to the government on their opinions about the activities of the government in their locality.

“I will communicate this to the government to see that your papers are patronized,” adding that the government is willing to partner and collaborate with newspapers and magazine publishers in the state.

“The truth is that you are closer to the people and are more grass root oriented than any other form of mass communication; the people know you, trust you. You have your reporters and your men there.”

Agas urged the association to avoid publishing reports that are a guess work, stressing that there are enough government channels to verify their stories before they are published.

On the call by the ACNPN Chairman on Chief Agas to partner with the association in making their forth-coming security programme a success, the SSG opined that the Government of Delta State is fully aware that investors will not be attracted to the state when there is no peace and security, and thus assured the group of the government’s support since the government’s primary assignment is security of lives and property which the government places a premium on.