The Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, is optimistic that the coming of FR News into the news space portends a positive development for the people of the Niger Delta region.
Peterside, a onetime Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State who stated this at the unveiling of the newspaper in Port Harcourt, Saturday, said the emergence of the newspaper is a paradigm shift from the negative narration often peddled about people of the oil rich region.
Dakuku Peterside who was Chairman of the occasion, said the tabloid which had been circulating both online and at the newsstands for a while, had grown phenomenally and commended the publisher, Mr. Akeodi Ali and his team for a job well done.
“This is the kind of thing we see in Lagos and I’m happy that we are beginning to see it in our own part of the country”, he said while stating that although he had competing events within and outside the State, he decided to honour the launch as according to him, the new tabloid is a seed that would grow, flourish and its impact would be felt across the globe.
He noted that the FR News has come at a most appropriate moment when positive developments in the region were grossly under reported and urged other youths in the Niger Delta to emulate the good examples of the publisher by activating their talents to succeed and make people of the region proud.
“The Niger Delta people are a bundle of talents. What Akeodi is doing today has changed the narrative about our people being lazy. No, they are young, hardworking, talented, daring and achievers; and by virtue of what Akeodi is doing, he is rewriting our story and I am very proud to be a Niger Delta son”, he said.
Speaking while performing the unveiling, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari also commended the publisher for his efforts and urged the reading public to take advantage of the tabloid for adequate information about the Niger Delta, Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
Other dignitaries at the well attended event include Chief Fafaa Dan Princewill who was represented by Mr. Nimi T. Amachree; Pastor Jerry Needam, represented by the Acting Editor of National Network newspaper, Ken Asinobi; Chief Waris Ali, Dr. Marshall Ekpete and popular radio presenter, Barr. Ikechukwu Nwanze.
Others are Col. Aminu Ilyasu of 6 Div., Nigerian Army, represented by Lt. Aliyu; Dr. Uche Igwe, Senibo Apee, Chuchu P.M.B. Benjamin, Cathchist Godspower Igwe and Madam Bumi of City People Magazine.
