A foundation Known as ‘BudgIT’ has charged journalists to report issues of corruption in Nigeria’s extractive industry.
BudgIT with the support of Oxfam Nigeria, an international organization committed to enhancing conversations within the civic space, encouraged journalists to utilize quality data and infographics in their stories to enable citizens understand how resources are deployed.
The foundation gave the charge at a one-day Investigative Journalism workshop on “the Need to Follow Up Corrupt – Rooted Procurement Related Cases and Develop Content for Writing Their Stories”, for 26 journalists in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
Continuous training
The Senior Media and head, Communication Design, Mr. Kehinde Agbaje explained that the workshop was aimed at “promoting citizens’ participation in contracting data disclosure vis-a-vis improving transparency in public procurement processes.”
Agbaje explained that BudgIT was expanding its training to about 5,000 journalists in Nigeria, saying “over the next five years, we intend to train 5,000 journalists”
He stressed that journalists need to understand what their roles are in regards to nation building and not allow themselves to be swayed by the smooth talks of politicians.
“Journalists should know that we would not have a Nigeria if they do not hold public office holders to account. Whenever a government is transparent, they build trust with citizens. And our duty as BudgIT is to enlighten,”
Recommendations
Meanwhile, the participants at the workshop have recommended that “journalists should be encouraged and given adequate support to report the issues of corruption perpetrating the extractive industry.
The participants also agreed that infographics were one of the best forms of visualization when reporting qualitative data, noting “training and retraining of journalists on Investigation and content writing should be organized occasionally.
Media practitioners further agreed that the amount allocated for maintenance of refineries should be channeled towards the construction of new refineries to further advance the nations socio-economic prospect.
On funding for investigative stories, the participants called for provision of adequate safety measures to enhance reportage of investigative stories without fear or favour.
They also noted that “with proper investigation, the excess financial expenditures from the NNPC administrative cost can be directed towards infrastructural development in the country as well as address the backlog in the refinery.”
“It is pertinent that the Nigerian government and other relevant authorities consider modular refineries as a new strategy and an avenue for employment opportunities rather than expend finances on the revival of the refineries,” the participants added.
The workshop focused on two main areas, ‘Writing a Compelling Story’, and ‘Data Analysis and Visualization.”
Nnenna.O
