By Patrick Ochei
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Abdullahi Alhassan Yahya has inaugurated the first Nigerian NUJ chapel Press Centre built for the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel by the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The President had in his short and explicit speech, eulogized the security outfit for taking the initiative, not only to recognize the invaluable contributions and indispensable impacts of the press on societal growth and development, but also for engaging the press in a manner that has earned it such magnificent edifice, adding that such benevolence has underscored the leading role of Tantita in security business.
He however, admonished the Warri Correspondents to put the edifice to proper use and never forget to always reciprocate the gestures of the source (Tantita) of the press centre no matter what happens.
Comrade Yahya used the medium to reaffirm the commitment of his office towards ensuring professionalism of the highest standards amongst practicing journalists in Nigeria.
In their response, the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, represented by the Executive Director, Technical and Operations, Capt. Warredi Enisoh, said they should be the ones appreciating journalists for telling the story of Tantita in such a credible manner that the outfit became recognized internationally for its best practices in the fight against oil bunkering and other illicit activities of criminal and corrupt elements in oil rackets in the creeks and waterways of Niger Delta.
According to him, “What we have done for the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel is not out of favour but out of necessity. We got international recognition by the relationship we kept with the NUJ. Journalists have helped us to tell our story and we appreciate them.
“This project comprising of a fully completed storey building, tastefully furnished with guest rooms, including 24 hours of solar electricity, a standby generator and internet service to serve both the NUJ and its host community is just a token of our appreciation for the cordiality we enjoy from the press.
“Going forward, we will not fail you and we will not fail ourselves. We are fully committed to this partnership with the media, because Tantita over the years has prepared itself with the reality of all times. We say a big thank you for your productive enterprise in holding those who are messing up with our region to account. We have already pledged our readiness to always partner journalists from inception when we took over the protection of our oil facilities, from where we grew the daily production from about 800 thousand barrels per day to about 1.7 million barrels per day”, Tantita ED recounted.
It was a huge ceremony with a gathering of the who-is-who in government, private sector and the media, whereas the official cutting of the inauguration tape was done by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, ably represented by the Executive Director, DESOPADEC, Chief Ebenezer Okorodudu.
Other personalities present included the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom, HRM Dr. Ogheneochuko Morris Eyokpemi Egbobonyen, the journalist who became the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM Udurhie Monday Obukowho Whiskey, House of Reps Member, Rt. Hon. Donald Ojogor, President of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) and immediate past NUJ President, Comrade Chief Chris Isiguzo, Deputy President of NUJ, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, NUJ Zonal Vice President, Comrade Opaka Dokubo, NUJ Zonal Secretary, Comrade John Angese, NUJ Delta State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, NUJ prominent Stakeholder and Leader, Asiwaju Shola Adebayo and other critical stakeholders and members of the Union.
