NUJ DECRIES POOR CONDITION OF ROADS, HEAPS OF REFUSE, MENACE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS IN ANAMBRA
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council has condemned the rascality of tricycle operators popularly known as Keke and Shuttle drivers, who have continued to disrupt free-flow of traffic in the state capital.
This is contained in a communique issued by its Chairman, Dr. Emeka Odogwu in Awka, after the Council’s Congress.
The Union expressed displeasure with the traffic gridlock caused by the said operators, describing it as nuisance, especially on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, notably around the Regina Caeli Junction, UNIZIK Temporary site, and the Aroma Junction Awka.
The Union also called the attention of the state government to the heaps of refuse constituting health risks at different corners of the state, urging it to urgently take action in that regard.
The communique decried the bad condition of roads in the state and urged the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to repair them.
According to the union, roads in the state were in terrible condition generally, hence the need for the governor to at least begin palliative works on roads in Awka and environs.
“The Congress (NUJ) condemns the existence of numerous potholes on the major roads and the adjoining roads in Awka, especially Nodu – Goodwill Junction, Y-junction – UNIZIK, among many others, and urged the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led government to do the needful by carrying out palliative work on the damaged portions of the roads to save residents from further suffering,” the statement appealed.
The union urges the state government to strictly enforce the ban on roadside touting in the state, especially at Upper Iweka, Onitsha where touts had devised various means to rob and extort unsuspecting victims.
While commending the state government’s efforts to reduce crime rate in the state, the Union also lauded the joint efforts of the security agencies at tracking and arresting some of the perpetrators of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state.
