By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Members of the fourth estate of the realm have been urged to stop chasing away potential investors in the power sector in Nigeria with their ‘inresponsible and unbalanced reportage’ of the industry.
Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading PLC, Ms Marilyn Amobi, who made this appeal on Wednesday in Abuja, noted that “bad news are read by investors around the world who naturally become anxious of a hostile business climate, which unfortunately is what the Nigeria media does often.”
Addressing a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, Ms Amobi said unbalanced reportage of the sector was capable of affecting free flow of Foreign Direct Investment which is critical energy development.
According to The Sun, the NBET chief said inaccurate reportage of the sector will naturally slow the progress being made in the industry, emphasising on the need for journalists to always portray issues and events in a neutral and unbiased manner, regardless of their personal opinions or belief.
Speaking on issues of accountability and transparency in the NBET, the MD disclosed that all financial transactions with Generating Companies (Gencos) and international customers are made public through monthly publication in the media for scrutiny and transparency sake.
She expressed the confidence that the power sector reforms in the company will not be halted under any primordial threats.
Adedapo Adesanya