Drones deployed for news coverage in six states

For effective coverage of events, the News Agency of Nigeria has deployed drones in six major states across Nigeria.

At the annual management retreat in 2021 for a news agency in Ilorin on Wednesday, the managing director/CEO of NAN, Mr. Buki Ponle, said that the agency is poised to be more relevant to stakeholders, especially subscribers.

He confidently noted that “With the ongoing measures put in place to enhance service delivery, we are now poised to be perfectly quintessential, with improved relevance to our stakeholders, especially subscribers”.

He also said a marked difference will be notable with the newly acquired technology for the multi-media unit, in the pursuit of positive reporting and solutions journalism.

“Drones as you know are enhanced technology to get to areas that are difficult to penetrate. It could be a crowd, demonstration; be it a peaceful or violent demonstration.

The drones can get there to cover and get the story. It’s just to improve on our coverage and to show that we’re aligning with advanced technology.

“First, we want to deploy about six to such areas as Abuja, Lagos among other areas where activities are continuously in progress. It’s just to serve our clients better and to ensure that our reporters are up to date with advanced technology,” he said.

Ponle, lamented during his call for a higher level of dedication from reporters, saying that some journalists chase only what they can benefit even at the detriment of their lives.

Ponle also said it won’t be business as usual, adding that his administration would continue to reward excellence and exceptional hard work as stipulated in the civil service rules and regulations. Adding that staff morale will be boosted continuously, “even as we expect reciprocity from workers”.

“I am not oblivious of the fact that beyond the challenges facing our editorial operations, there is the welter of issues facing our internal operations.

Happily, all the members of the management team are gathered here to rub minds on the path to plod as the new year beckons.

I, therefore, urge everyone present here as members of the NAN family to reignite that old bond of unity and contribute to the discourse in order to find solutions to the challenges confronting our Agency.

“I have no doubt that with the continued support of our supervising ministry under the effective leadership of the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, NAN under my watch would continue to tread the path to shared prosperity,” he said.