NUJ Calls Out Military On Abia Checkpoints For Forcing Passengers To Walk

NUJ Calls Out Military On Abia Checkpoints For Forcing Passengers To Walk

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, has once again urged the Abia State government to collaborate with military leaders to revise the current practice of forcing commuters to disembark and walk across checkpoints……… CONTINUE READING

In a communique released following a congress at the NUJ secretariat in Umuahia, the union expressed strong disapproval of the practice, which requires passengers to leave their vehicles and walk through checkpoints before being permitted to continue their journey. The communique, signed by NUJ Abia State Chairman Victor Ndukwe and Secretary Ikechuckwu Onuegbu, highlighted troubling incidents occurring at locations such as the NNPC Mega station along the Umuahia/Okigwe axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and Umuahia-Uzuakoli Road. The NUJ described the practice as dehumanizing and akin to torture.

While praising Governor Alex Otti for addressing pension arrears owed by previous administrations, the NUJ urged him to address the unpaid pensions of retirees from the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) and the National Ambassador Newspapers (Abia Newspaper), who have been without payment for about nine months. The congress noted that the delay has exacerbated economic hardships, with reports of at least eight BCA pensioners dying due to the inability to afford medical expenses.

The NUJ called on the Governor to ensure that verified retirees receive their due payments promptly. Additionally, the congress expressed concern about rising crime rates in Umuahia and Aba, attributed to individuals posing as tricycle operators. The union urged tricycle associations to cooperate with the government and security agencies to identify and address these issues.

The NUJ also supported the Abia State government’s initiative to clear streets of mentally ill persons and recommended extending this effort statewide. They thanked Governor Otti for appointing Francis Nwaubani, a NUJ member, as the acting Director General of BCA, and urged Nwaubani to enhance the station’s operations.

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