By Meletus EZE
Stakeholders in the Extractive Industry have urged managers of the Extractive 360.com, a specialised news website, to maintain professionalism in reporting the industry and dissemination of news in general.
They gave the advice at the official Launch of the site, in Abuja, on Thursday.
Extractive360.com is a web-based publication which provides factual, reliable and up-to-date reports on issues within Nigeria’s extractive industries as well as related development across the world’s extractive industries and markets.
Ms Murjanatu Gawa, Country Manager Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), said the platform would serve as avenue to evaluate Nigerian activities in the sector.
“You must get things done right, the site should be a good platform for Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and others, to disseminate information on happening in the sector,” she said.
According to her, transparency should be key in the management of the site.
“Transparency in the extractive industry is every important for the growth and development of Nigeria.
“We will support any institution that champions transparency.”
The former spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Ohi Aligbe, said the manager must be ready to face attacks in the course of managing the site.
“But that should not make you to subdue professionalism. You must maintain the ethics of the profession and stick to the truth always.
“Never compromise principles and always remain focused.”
The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Mr Waziri Adio, urged the managers to use the platform to hold government accountable, adding that the platform must be known for credibility and must meet all standards.
Earlier, the Editor of the site, Ms Juliet Alohan, said Extractive360.com was conceived and set up for Nigerians to consistently gain good knowledge and information about the everyday workings of the country’s extractive industries.
“Since the establishment of the site, we have consistently ensured credibility and objectivity of our reports.
“We tell the stories in ways that the everyday citizen can understand and relate to, sometimes using infographics and pictures to drive the message home.
“We are, however, not unaware of the menace of fake news, which is today unfortunately, a serious challenge facing web-based publications, as the activities of some tend to shape perceptions about digital publications.
“But we have stayed away from such acts of unprofessionalism, and shall continue to maintain the ethos of our coming into being.”
She said that it was industry specific, adding that visitors did not have to filter through different categories of news like sports, politics and entertainment to get to extractive related reports.
“We have over the last one year recorded about 117, 293 unique visitors to the site
“With the hundreds of feedbacks from them, we are assured that we are doing the right things and pushing the frontiers of credible reporting further.
“The essence of this launch is to formally introduce the Platform to key industry stakeholders for their use and participation and to also allay fears and skepticism about online news sites.
“I can assure you that extractive 360 is a distinct and credible platform,” she added.===NAN
