The Bayelsa State Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) has appealed to the state government to assist in rehabilitating the management of Banner News.

The corporate office of the Yenagoa based local tabloid was gutted by fire in June this year.

During the incident property of the newspaper which includes computers, printing machines, office stationeries and fiscal cash estimated at millions of naira were destroyed.

Narrating the incident to the state Commissioner of Information, Strategy and Orientation, Chief Asara O. Asara, the chairman of BIPA, Mr. Ebi Ozegbe appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the publisher of the tabloid, Mr. Union Oyadongha.

Mr. Ozegbe pointed out that the physical and psychological trauma the incident has caused the publisher is such that needs the assistance of government, philanthropic organisations and individual.

He said Banner News is one of the local tabloids that has stood the test of time in promoting development journalism in the state by constantly publishing government activities.

The chairman used the occasion of the courtesy visit to intimate the commission about the associations 10th anniversary coming up very soon.

According to him, the association in the past had received a lot of encouragement from past administration but regretted that it had not been possible for them to have this co-operation from the present Sylva administration.

Responding, Chief Asara said government is doing its utmost best to responds to the yearnings of people but due to the present economic meltdown, it has not been possible to address all sectors.

This, according to him, was the reason why sourcing for N100 billion through capital market has became imperative.

“When the bond materialise government would be in a better position to address the issues of development and other social issue, he said.