By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
The Anambra State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for urgent intervention of the state government in tackling erosion problems in the area.
This was contained in a communique issued by the union at the end of her 2023 congress, held at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, Awka, the Anambra State Capital.
According to the communique, the Congress which was presided over by the state chairman of NUJ, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu listed erosion sites at Onitsha-Owerri Road, Onitsha-Enugu Express Road and Ebenato in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, as areas that needed urgent attention, and asked the state government to reach out to the Federal Government, for urgent intervention.
The NUJ also condemned incessant abandonment of filled up waste bins in some parts of the capital city and called for their quick evacuation, to avoid environmental pollution and its resultant health hazards.
It, however, commended the efforts of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, (ACTDA) led by Chief Ossy Onuko in its efforts to keep the State clean and urged the Authority to step up the tempo.
The Union further urged the Anambra State Government, to put some proactive measures in place, to forestall further occurrences of flood, especially in the seven riverine local government areas in the state.
On the current inflation rate in country, which was occasioned by the removal of subsidy on the prices of petroleum products, the NUJ in Anambra State, thanked the state government for the distribution of palliative materials to the people, to cushion the effects of the hardships.
The communique read in part, “Congress commended the state government’s efforts to cushion effects of the high inflation in the State but asked government to monitor the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) and other agencies distributing the relief materials for equity, fairness and equity in the sharing.”
The NUJ further stated: “Congress also advised NUJ Anambra State Council to present it’s request to the government for it’s members share of the palliative materials being distributed.”
It also advised all practising journalists in the state to register and identify with Union, adding that this would foster unity among members and check the influx of charlatans in the profession, as well as
encouraged public office holders to always make information available to journalists. It noted, pointing out that it is the only way the media could serve the society better.
The congress also charged media practitioners to continue to promote peace and stability in the society, through their various reportage while they should also always uphold the ethics of the journalism profession.
