By Hamza Suleiman
Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
has called for more support to victims of the Sept. 9 flooding in Maiduguri.
He made the call in Maiduguri on Monday while on official visit to Borno to commiserate with the government and people of
the state, as he also visited the NAN office for on-the-spot assessment of the facility after the flooding.
The NAN boss, during a visit to the Borno Deputy Governor, Dr Usman Kadafur, extended the agency’s sympathy to the government and people of the state.
He condoled with families of those who lost their relatives and property to the disaster, and expressed NAN’s commitment to support
the state through consistent news coverage, especially during challenging times.
He emphasised the importance of NAN’s presence in Borno and the North-East zone, stressing that “the agency will continue to provide accurate
and timely news coverage in the area.”
He stressed the need for firsthand assessment of destruction incurred by victims, including the damaged NAN Maiduguri office, which he described
as “totally obliterated.
“The News Agency of Nigeria cannot stand by while its services in Borno and the North-East are affected.”
Ali, therefore, called for support to enable the agency to rebuild the office, and acknowledged the need for improved infrastructure.
He expressed the hope to establish a multimedia centre in the state, disclosing plans to enhance the agency’s capabilities through media convergence,
integrating audio, video and SMS service for better service to the people of the area.
In his response, Kadafur welcomed the NAN delegation and expressed gratitude for the media coverage of the flooding, in spite of the fact that the agency’s facility
was affected.
He said “the timely and accurate reportage by your agency during the disaster helped to raise the needed awareness and to mobilise support for the
affected communities.”
He praised the collaborative relationship between the Borno Government and NAN, reaffirming the government’s commitment to support the agency’s operations in the state.
“I want to assure you that the Borno State Government is ever ready to support your office,” Kadafur said, highlighting the strategic importance of Borno, which borders three nations.
He explained that a well-equipped NAN office would significantly showcase the region’s developments and foster unity among neighbouring countries.
Kadafur said that the government is allocating houses to federal agencies, promising that NAN would be among the beneficiaries upon completion of the project.
He encouraged NAN to continue its advocacy and support for the flooding victims and other communities affected by natural disasters across the country. (NAN)
