The General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ikechukwu Onyeamakara, has called on maritime journalists to adopt a more constructive style of reporting that uplifts Nigeria’s image before the international maritime community.
Onyeamakara made the appeal when he received the three-man Caretaker Committee of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), led by Tunde Ayodele, during a courtesy visit to the NPA headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025.
Emphasising the ethical pillars of journalism—accuracy, balance and factual reporting, he urged practitioners to refrain from sensationalism, stressing that negative narratives rarely yield any national benefit. With Nigeria preparing for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Category C council elections, he said constructive reportage has become even more crucial for attracting global support.
According to him, journalists in advanced maritime nations often safeguard their industry’s image even when confronted with challenges, and he encouraged Nigerian reporters to adopt a similar approach.
Onyeamakara commended MARAN for its longstanding reputation as a pioneer body among maritime media associations and expressed NPA’s support for efforts to unify journalists within the industry. He noted that responsible journalism remains vital to the success of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
“Maritime is a global industry, and what journalists write has a powerful effect on how the world perceives Nigeria”, he stated.
He also charged the MARAN Caretaker Committee to ensure credible leadership emerges during the association’s upcoming elections, warning that the wrong choices could undermine the legacy of the association’s founding members.
Responding, MARAN Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tunde Ayodele, thanked the NPA for its longstanding partnership. He assured that the association would strengthen this relationship through professionalism and developmental journalism, adding that recent reforms within MARAN were aimed at repositioning it for greater industry impact.
Ayodele also invited the NPA to the MARAN Book Launch scheduled for December 4, 2025 in Lagos.
Onyeamakara accepted the invitation and promised that the NPA management would be duly represented.