Edo NUJ Calls For Urgent Rehabilitation Of Abandoned NDDC Projects

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State chapter has called for urgent action on both the abandoned Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, projects and the rehabilitation of all federal roads in the state- the Benin/Auchi Road; Benin/Agbor Road; Benin/Abraka Road; Benin/Sapele Road; Benin/Akure Road and the Benin/Lagos Road.
The union also admonished journalists to be neutral and professional in their reportage of political activities ahead of the Edo 2024 elections as it decried the pervasive tendency of some journalists to publish fake and unverified news items.
The NUJ made the demands in a statement issued at the end of its monthly Congress held on Monday September 25, 2023 at the NUJ Press Centre, GRA, Benin City.
According to the statement jointly signed by Hameed Braimah, the chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, and Lucky Isibor , the secretary of the committee, after fruitful sharing of ideas and deliberations on a wide range of issues, Congress:
*Commended the Edo State Government for the rehabilitation and upgrade of Edo Broadcasting Service and the Nigerian Observer Newspapers for effective service delivery.
*The Congress lauded the Edo State government project ‘Light Up Edo’ and therefore, called on the State Electricity *Commission to extend the project to other parts of the Benin metropolis that are yet to be covered and as well ensure regular maintenance of installed facilities.
*The congress also commended the state government for the provision of free Wi-fi facility at the NUJ Press Centre and the promise of a Coaster Bus to the union by the state governor. *Congress lauded both the minister of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Abubakar Momoh for his recent visit to abandoned NDDC projects in the state, and the minister of Works, Dave Umuahi for his recent inspection of failed portions on sections of federal roads in the state.
*Congress called for urgent action on both the abandoned NDDC projects and the rehabilitation of all federal roads in the state viz, Benin/Auchi Road; Benin/Agbor Road; Benin/ Abraka Road; Benin/Sapele Road; Benin/Akure Road and the Benin/ Lagos Road.”
On the forthcoming 2024 Edo governorship election, the Congress advised journalists to be neutral and professional in their reportage of political activities ahead of the election.
The Communique reads,” Congress decried the pervasive tendency of some journalists to publish fake and unverified news items and urged them to refrain from such unprofessional practice by fact-checking their reports before publishing so as to maintain their professional integrity.
*Congress urged journalists to continue to update their knowledge so as to be abreast with novel developments in the journalism profession and urged them to avail themselves of both local and foreign trainings organized for journalists. *Congress also advised members against negative and divisive tendencies capable of destroying the good image of the profession and the Council by refraining from the pervasive pull-him-down syndrome that tend to work against the collective aspiration of the union”.