Ethical Journalism Key to Maritime Development, Stakeholders Tell Reporters
Kathy Kyari
Stakeholders in Nigeria's maritime industry have called on journalists covering the sector to uphold the highest standards of ethical reporting, describing professionalism, accuracy, and accountability as critical drivers of transparency, investor confidence, security, and sustainable maritime development.
The call was made on Thursday in Lagos during the inauguration of the newly elected Executive Council of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), led by its new President, Oluyinka Onigbinde.
The event, themed "Upholding Ethical Journalism for Maritime Development," attracted maritime industry leaders, government officials, security agencies, freight forwarders, and media practitioners who underscored the role of the media in advancing Nigeria's maritime and blue economy aspirations.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Indigo Integrated, Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, described journalism as the backbone of accountability, public trust, and informed citizenship, stressing that ethical reporting remains indispensable to both national and maritime development.
Abimbola explained that maritime development extends beyond shipping and port operations to include fisheries, offshore energy, coastal trade, and the blue economy. He warned that unethical journalism could undermine investor confidence, distort public perception, and frustrate policy implementation.
According to him, inaccurate reports on issues such as port congestion, piracy, and maritime regulations have the potential to discourage investors and shipping operators, while sensational reporting of security incidents could trigger unnecessary panic and misconceptions about the sector.
He urged journalists to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, balance, accountability, and humanity in their reporting, while embracing data-driven and investigative journalism to deepen public understanding of maritime issues.
Abimbola also identified economic pressures, political interference, safety concerns, and the spread of misinformation on digital platforms as major challenges confronting ethical journalism in Nigeria.
Chairman of the occasion and President of the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, said ethical and investigative journalism remains essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in the maritime industry.
Maiguwa noted that journalists have a critical responsibility to remain committed to factual reporting and continuous professional development in order to maintain public trust and contribute meaningfully to policy reforms and sectoral growth.
In his inaugural address, the newly sworn-in MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, pledged to build a stronger, more united, and professionally vibrant association capable of responding to the evolving demands of maritime journalism.
He described MARAN as one of Nigeria's oldest and most respected maritime journalism bodies, noting that the association has consistently served as a bridge between industry stakeholders and the public through decades of reforms, economic shifts, and industry transformation.
According to Onigbinde, ethical journalism remains fundamental to maritime development because sustainable growth in the sector depends on credible information, transparency, and accountability.
"As maritime journalists, our duty goes beyond reporting events. We are expected to inform, educate, investigate, analyse and hold institutions accountable. We must resist sensationalism, reject misinformation and ensure that every report we publish is guided by truth, fairness, balance and professionalism," he stated.
The MARAN President outlined his administration's priorities, including enhanced capacity building, promotion of investigative and data-driven journalism, adoption of digital reporting tools, improved welfare for members, and stronger engagement with industry stakeholders while maintaining editorial independence.
He also called for unity among members, declaring that the association had moved beyond electoral divisions.
"The elections are behind us. There are no longer camps. There are no factions. There is only one MARAN," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Tochukwu Emmanuel Ezisi, the association's General Secretary, Mr. Godfrey Nwosu, described ethical journalism as a stabilizing force capable of strengthening the maritime sector.
Nwosu said responsible journalism promotes transparency in port operations, enhances institutional accountability, boosts investor confidence, and supports reforms necessary for the growth of the industry.
He urged the newly inaugurated executive council to focus on upholding professional standards, strengthening investigative reporting, deepening stakeholder engagement, embracing digital transformation, and investing in continuous capacity development.
He also reaffirmed NAGAFF's commitment to collaborating with MARAN in the areas of training, research, information sharing, and advocacy.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, CP Toyin Agbaminoja, represented by the Command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Isaac Hundeyin, highlighted the strategic role of maritime journalists in promoting transparency, accountability, and public understanding of issues affecting the maritime industry.
The police commissioner commended MARAN for its professionalism in reporting security-related developments within the ports environment, noting that the association's work has contributed significantly to crime prevention awareness and strengthened public confidence in security agencies.
She assured stakeholders of the command's commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and business-friendly port environment through intelligence-led policing, proactive stakeholder engagement, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
Agbaminoja further encouraged the newly inaugurated executives to build on the achievements of their predecessors and uphold the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and integrity throughout their tenure.
The event ended with renewed commitments from stakeholders to support ethical journalism as a vital instrument for maritime development, institutional accountability, economic growth, and the advancement of Nigeria's blue economy.
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