Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has assured of his administration’s commitment towards ensuring that the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Secretariat in Umuahia is completed in a short time.
Governor Ikpeazu gave the assurance while receiving in audience the executive of NUJ, Abia Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade John Mejor. He said work would resume in earnest at the project site as he directed that some funds be released to that effect.
The Governor charged journalists to continue to publicise the achievements of his administration saying that the socio-economic growth of Abia State depends on them, describing them as the catalysts of economic development.
He said that Abia has returned to the front burner of socio-economic development as a result of the State government’s collaboration with the World Bank, the federal government and other foreign agencies.
The Governor said that the interventions of these development partners are playing a vital role in facilitating infrastructural development in the State and assured that a good number of rural roads would be completed this year.
Governor Ikpeazu, who said he has resolved to restore regular media briefing expressed hope that the briefings would enable the media to showcase the achievements and policy thrust of his administration. He also assured of a sustained relationship with the press because of its agenda-setting role in society.
Earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia Council, Comrade John Emejor, commended the dynamism with which Governor Ikpeazu is growing the economy of the State. He appreciated the Governor’s strides the promotion of ‘Made in Aba’ products, education, agriculture, infrastructure and the proposed Enyimba Economic City, and assured that journalists in the state would continue to publicise policies and activities of the government.
Comrade Emejor thanked the Governor for his earlier assistance in hosting the NUJ National Executive Council meeting in Abia State. While appealing to the Governor to also assist in the completion of the Council’s permanent secretariat, he highlighted its importance to journalists in Abia State.
The Governor later inspected the project site of the NUJ permanent Secretariat as well as proximal erosion site and directed PUMECO Construction Company Ltd to immediately present a plan for its reclamation and the proper channelling of the Ehimiri stormwater.
