FG urged to maintain federal roads- Nuj Zone F

   The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone F has expressed concern on the deplorable conditions of Federal Roads in the South South Zone of the Federation, describing them as death traps and unacceptable.

   

   In a communique issued at the end of it quarterly meeting on Monday September 30, 2019 at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State named some of the affected roads to include Uromi-Agbor-Amukpe Road, Benin-Auchi Road, East-West Road and the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road and called on the Federal Government to be alive in the maintenance of its roads.

   The communique, however, commended state governors in the zone who intervened in fixing federal roads even as it observed the need for such intervention to follow due process and the job executed according to standard.

   The communique called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to reimburse state governments that have used their funds to fix federal roads and described the recent approval of billions of Naira for the rehabilitation of some federal roads in the country by the federal government with only one road in the zone as discriminatory and unacceptable.

   On insecurity, kidnapping and armed robbery, the meeting noted that the zone is still under siege and called on security agencies and governments at all levels to bring the state of insecurity under checks.

   On efforts made at wiping out serial killings and other acts of criminality in hotels, the zone praised the resourcefulness of the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Police in nabbing the serial killer, David West but called for more prodding to unravel his co-perpetrators and sponsors. It equally commended the initiative of the command's directive to hotel operators to register all guests with valid ID cards and urged other state commands to apply same strategy to check crimes in hotel premises.

   The communique viewed with serious concern the rising rate of youth unemployment in the zone and the attendant link with vices and criminality. It nevertheless, urged youths in the zone to develop the mentality of self-worth and reliance by engaging in gainful and lawful endeavours rather than looking up to government for employment.

   The zone appreciated and thanked the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, for his uncommon support to that state council of the NUJ and the welfare of journalists, particularly the health insurance scheme for 250 journalists, urging him to sustain the momentum.

   The zone, in reasoning with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, called for a change of narrative for people to see the South- South States as an investors' haven rather than home for restiveness and criminality.

   The communique expressed worry at events leading to the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State and sued for a peaceful, transparent, free and fair process that will not only make for credible election but devoid of killings and destruction of property.

   The Bayelsa State delegation in the meeting include the National Trustee Zone F, Comrade John Angese, the Bayelsa State Council Chairman, Comrade Samuel Numonengi, the Secretary, Comrade Ogio Ipigansi and the NAWOJ Vice President Zone F, Timi Idoko.