Don’t abuse FoI law, Oyo advises journalists

The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, on Thursday advised media professionals not to abuse the use of the Freedom of Information Act.

Oyo, who was in Abeokuta for the opening of a workshop organised for NAN marketers, spoke in an interview with journalists.

She urged journalists not to abuse the law and implored them to always have the fear of God while discharging their duties.

Describing the law as good for all Nigerians, she said, “I think it is a law that has come to be and we are glad that our President signed it because he believes in freedom of information.

“But the law also says two things; that as journalists have some rights to be able to access information, we must be mindful of our responsibility. We should be ready to use such information with extreme care and with the fear of God in our hearts. The second thing also is that, there is no hiding place for anyone who wants to hide anything that is untoward.”

While speaking on the foreign media report of events in the country, Oyo lamented that the negative portrayal of the nation by foreign media had become a major concern.

She said the development was of utmost concern to the agency, adding that deliberate efforts were being made by NAN to address the problem.

Oyo said, “We are currently working on agreement with Italian News Agency and they are about to sign a news exchange agreement with us. We have signed a news exchange agreement with Reuters. We have with AFP and we have with Chinese News Agency. And as regards the African Union, they have shown considerable interest in what the News Agency of Nigeria is doing and they want to partner with us.”