NUJ Declares Flood Victims Rescue Operations Efforts in Anambra Unsatisfactory

By Praise Necherem

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra state council has expressed dissatisfaction over evacuation efforts by National Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Management Agency of victims of flood disaster in five local government areas of the state.

The union appealed to the bodies to intensify efforts and reduce as much as possible the impact of the humanitarian crisis emerging from the flood.

In a six-point communique issued by the council during its October congress, signed by the chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and Secretary, Comrade Alloysius Offordile also frowned at alleged extortion, intimidation and harassment of motorists in the state by operatives of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency, ARTMA, and Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO.

It noted that some of the agencies were not acting within the ambit of the law and called on the State Government to intervene in the matter.

NUJ however applauded the State Government for its effort towards improving security of lives and property in the state, as well as the recent flag-off of roads in the state especially in communities long neglected by previous administrations.

It however called on government to prioritize roads in the capital city as several of the roads within Awka and environs are no longer motorable.

It also urged government to do everything within its powers to ensure that the streetlights once again begin to illuminate the streets and towns of the state, saying it is of strategic importance to maintaining security.

The body further called government’s attention to the continued illegal revenue collection in the state especially at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Onitsha and Ifite Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area, despite government’s policy against it.
 
On refuse disposal, the Union advised State Government through the Anambra State Waste Management Agency, ASWAMA, to review its policy of house-to-house collection of waste as the strategy seems not to be working yet.

It advocated a two-way approach where the house-to-house collection will coexist with the previous method of placing receptacles at strategic points in towns and cities in order to make waste management more efficient.