COVID 19: MARAN tasks govt agencies on safety kits for maritime journalists, shuts secretariat
Samson Echenim is business a.m. correspondent providing coverage for maritime, aviation, travels and hospitality. A former business correspondent at the Punch and Leadership newspapers, he has a vast experience in business reporting. Samson can be reached on samhapp2000@yahoo.com and +2348037363024
Government agencies in the maritime sub-sector have been charged to provide safety kits for journalists who cover the activities of the seaports, land borders and other relevant places within the maritime industry.
The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) which made the call said it had also shut down its secretariat, the International Press Centre, Atlantic House, Apapa Wharf in Lagos from Friday March 27, as part of efforts to ensure that the Federal Government’s bid to curtailing the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19), becomes successful.
Dapo Olawuni, general secretary of the association in a statement on Thursday, regretted that for the first time since its establishment in 1988, MARAN would be compelled to shut down its secretariat.
The MARAN scribe however cleared that members, as journalists would continue to go to the port and report activities, in as much as the ports remain opened.
He said the secretariat would not be open to members, or individual journalists who visit the press centre on daily basis.
He said that all committees set up by the association executives are advised to continue to monitor interactions with Maritime industry stakeholders as regards upcoming events of the association.
Olawuni said “The President of MARAN, Anya Njoku has directed that the MARAN centre should be shut down in compliance with the social distancing instructions of the Federal and Lagos State Government.
“Meanwhile, maritime journalists shall continue to do their job as regards covering the industry and feeding Nigerians with fresh updates”
He reiterated that the nation’s ports have not been shut down.
“MARAN president has also charged the relevant government agencies in the maritime sector to provide journalists covering the industry with hand sanitizers, nose masks, hand gloves and other safety kits against the Coronavirus pandemic, ” he stated.