Housing and urban development minister Ahmed Dangiwa has reiterated his support for the proposed Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) village in the capital, Abuja.
At the NUJ FCT council press week lecture and awards event, “Journalism in a Changing World: Press Freedom, Media, Democracy, and Society,” held in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister gave a speech.
Dangiwa predicted that the country’s capital would see the construction of an affordable housing complex for journalists.
“I would like to reassure the chairman of the NUJ FCT chapter about our prior engagement and discussions regarding the establishment of the journalists’ village in the FCT,” he said.
During our courtesy call and meeting, I promised you that your dream will come true. And I stand by that promise.
“We will instruct the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to supply the land for this estate’s construction through the cooperative housing development.”
Dangiwa counseled reporters to cover the federal ministry of housing and urban development and its operations in a responsible manner.
“As the public’s eyes and ears, you—journalists, editors, photographers, producers, and publishers—are in the best position to help tell that story, and we want Nigerians to understand why we are doing it,” he stated.
President Bola Tinubu has “genuine respect” for the function of the media, according to the ministry.
“That isn’t merely lip service. He stated, “It’s a policy, a practice, and a component of the renew hope agenda.”
According to Dangiwa, technology has transformed journalism and brought with it both opportunities and dangers.
Digital innovation has, on the one hand, made it simpler to expose misconduct, reach audiences, and tell stories in real time. However, it has also increased the risk of the job,” he noted.
“Like wildfire, misinformation spreads. Online abuse does exist, and sadly, many journalists—women in particular—face threats just for carrying out their duties. This is why occasions like this are so important.
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We are all aware that press freedom is under threat everywhere in the globe, including in democracies. Journalists experience financial difficulty, censorship, and harassment.
Additionally, your job has gotten more challenging in this digital age, when information may be misrepresented and even extracted from bogus news. Let me clarify, though: your work is important.
Democracy depends on more than simply elections, which is why it matters. Depending on the information, yes. The press delivers timely, accurate, and responsive information. It is brave, equitable, and free.
According to NUJ FCT Council Chairperson Grace Ike, the eagerly anticipated housing project will allow journalists to acquire a reasonably priced home.
“These initiatives are essential investments in the future of journalism and the welfare of those who support it; they are not luxury projects,” Ike stated.
She called for support for the project from the government, media, partners, and stakeholders.
