The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Concil, has lamented the deplorable state of Calabar-Itu road, calling on the Federal Government to ask the contractors to expedite work on the project.
This call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its monthly congress at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar, while noting that the poor state of the road has caused loss of many lives due to accidents.
The congress, which was presided over by the state chairman of the union, Mr. Victor Udu, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the timely completion of the newly constructed Ikom Bridge in Ikom Local Government Area, which it said would improve economic activities within and outside the state.
The communiqué read in part: “The Congress appealed to the Federal Government to mount pressure on the contractors handling the reconstruction of the Calabar-Itu Road to expedite work on the project and ensure its timely completion to reduce the high rate of carnage on the road due to its current deplorable condition.
“We commended President Buhari for the completion of the newly constructed Ikom Bridge. It will reduce the plight of commuters and improve economic activities as it is a major inter and intra-state evacuation corridor.”
On matters affecting the state, the congress commended Governor Ben Ayade’s efforts towards ensuring security of life and property with the establishment of the security outfit, Operation Akpakwu that has brought peace to Cross River.
“The union called on the Cross River State government to resume the payment of gratuities and pensions owed to retirees as well as commence the implementation of payment of automatic pension to affected retirees in the state. It observed that retired civil servants in the state deserve to be treated better after putting in 35 years of meritorious service to the State.”
The journalists appealed to the state government to address the deplorable conditions and lack of operational equipment of state-owned media organizations such as the Cross River State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Cross River State Newspaper Corporation and Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, caused by the #EndSARS protests.

By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar