UKAH CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE REGULATION OF ONLINE MEDIA
OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO 16/05/19
Ogbueshi Patrick Ukah, Commissioner for Information has called for sustainable regulation of the practice of the online media.
The commissioner made this call when he featured as a special guest of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) programme tagged ‘Frontline’, he said that the online media was prone to so much abuse but expressed satisfaction that the leadership of DOPF was willing to embrace internal control mechanism of its members.
While saying that he had belief in the capacity of the online media to build the society for better, Ogbueshi Ukah called on the leaders and members not to relent but to work relentlessly to ensure that they remain united as one entity, adding, ” please remain united and avod being balkanized.”
Responding to a question, Ogbueshi Ukah said that he had never attempted to suppressed stories but believed in dialogue with the media to work for a balanced story where the side of government is heard through conviction.
Speaking on Outside Broadcast (OB) Van parked at the Commissioner’s Quarters in Asaba, the Commissioner said that though the van was completely analogue and it would cost the equivalent of a new one to make digital, he disclosed that keeping it at the quarters was to ensure that it was not vandalized.
He further disclosed that plans had been concluded to purchase a new Outside Broadcasting (OB) Van to service DBS stations in Asaba and Warri, noting that it was more economical to manage and maintain one than purchase separately for the two stations.
Ogbueshi Ukah harped on the need for content in the broadcast outfits in the state, saying that that was the best way to attract loyal audience adding that the state government had put in place every arrangement to commence the digital switch over.
While saying that the Government Printing Press had been repositioned for commercial services to the general public, the Commissioner gave assurance that arrangement would be put in place to make the Ministry of Information Bulletin to be produced on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays).
Assessing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, he said that there was need to critically look at the concrete things the governor had done across the state, he mentioned the feat of constructing solid roads in the riverine areas, an achievement he said, had never been attempted previously, adding that the governor was God sent to salvage the state..
He also disclosed that a solid arrangement had been put in place in the Ministry of Information and its parastatals in a way that whoever would mount the saddle as Commissioner after him would find it easy to build on.
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