Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council has berated both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Anambra State Government for their perceived poor reaction to the plights of persons displaced by flood disaster in Anambra State.
The Union made its feelings known in a communique signed by its Chairman, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and Secretary, Comrade Aloysius Ofodile, after their October Congress at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre NUJ Secretariat, Awka, Anambra State capital.
The Union expressed dissatisfaction with the efforts of the federal and state authorities especially where they are considered as the major stakeholders of victims of flood disaster.
As stated in the communiqué: “Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the evacuation efforts by major stakeholders (Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency and the Anambra State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency) of persons displaced by the flood disaster in five local government areas of the state.”
It however called on the government authorities to intensify efforts towards reducing as much as possible the impact of the humanitarian crisis emerging from the flood.
In their other points, the Union asked the governor to end the continued illegal revenue collection in the state, noting that innocent citizens are levied with impunity by illegal revenue collectors at Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA, Onitsha and Ifite Awka in Awka South LGA despite the government’s policy against it.
It called on state authorities to take urgent steps to enforce law against officers engaging in extortion, intimidation and harassment of motorists. It stated that the practice is currently perpetrated by operatives of both the State Road Traffic Management Agency, ARTMA, and Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, in the state capital.
Furthermore, NUJ commended the State Government on the recent flag-off of roads in communities long neglected by previous administrations. It also applauded the government for its effort at entrenching security of lives and property in the state.
While it advised the governor to prioritize roads in the capital city as several of the roads within Awka and environs are no longer motorable, it urged Soludo to ensure that the streetlights once again begin to illuminate the streets and towns of the state as that would help maintain existing security in the state.
