Covid-19: AMJON Harps on Safety Measures, Others

Chinazor Megbolu

The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) has harped on safety measures, personal hygiene amongst others over Covid-19 pandemic.

The AMJON President, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri in a press statement at the weekend said there’s need for members, colleagues and stakeholders in the maritime sector to keep safe by shunning crowds, adhere to personal hygiene, social distancing amongst others towards avoiding contracting the dreaded coronavirus disease.

“AMJON, as a corporate body wants to assure our members, colleagues and all stakeholders in the Maritime industry that all should keep to the safety rules of shunning large crowds, self-distancing, personal hygiene and self-isolation if the need arises.

“It is glaring that nations and businesses across the world have come to a standstill due to the ravaging Coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic.

“There is no gain saying the fact that the human race is facing one of the most trying times in recent history,” Ogbuokiri said.

He explained further that the total lockdown and “Social Distancing” of nations, its people and businesses called for strategic collaborations and show of love among various countries, families, entities and organisations respectively.

The Union President noted that as a result of the aforementioned, the AMJON, a group of media professionals reporting the maritime and the shipping sector wishes at this time to join other national and international leaders and organisations to preach the gospel of safety and protective living.

“We want to also appeal to the multinationals and government agencies in the Maritime Sector to extend safety facilities like sanitizers, hand gloves, even financial supports to help other stakeholders, especially the journalists who are constantly and practically involved in everyday activities to keep the stakeholders and other Nigerians duly informed on daily basis.

“We can boldly say that at this time, the maritime media is mostly needed alongside medical personnel who are on the field discharging their social functions of informing the Nigeria public of the pandemic and various safety nets to curtail the pandemic,” he said.

Ogbuokiri, however, posited that AMJON wants the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN), terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarding associations and Customs Brokers to rally round all stakeholders, especially the media to aid them discharge their functions effectively.

He charged them that despite all these, they should stay alive for their families and the nation at large.

“We appreciate the efforts of the federal government and some state governments in their bid to contain the spread of this virus.

“At this time, it’s very important to always check on our friends, colleagues, clients, brothers and sisters, not leaving out our stakeholders and business partners as a way of being our brother and sister keepers. “For sure there is hope in the horizon that we shall all come out stronger as a nation,” Ogbuokiri said.

Editing by ‘Biodun Soyele