NUJ raises alarm over fire service failures, bad roads in Cross River

Asuquo Cletus

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, has raised the alarm over the failure of the state fire service and the deplorable condition of major highways, warning that the situation poses serious risks to lives and property.

The union stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its Congress held on Wednesday at the Ernest Etim Press Centre, Calabar, and presided over by its Chairman, Archibong Baseey.

On fire safety, the Congress expressed “deep concern over the nonavailability and dysfunction of the State Fire Service equipment, which has hindered prompt response to emergencies.”

The NUJ cited recent fire outbreaks on Goldie Street, Calabar, and other locations in the state, where “property worth millions of naira were destroyed before the fire service could respond.”

It called on the Cross River State Government to “overhaul the fire service system to ensure efficiency and readiness,” while also appealing for improved inter-agency collaboration during emergency situations.

On road infrastructure, Congress decried the poor state of the Ikom–Calabar and Odukpani Uyo federal highways, noting that the condition of the roads has “jeopardised the movement of goods and people.”

The union raised the alarm over “frequent accidents on these routes” and urged the Cross River and Akwa Ibom State governments to intervene with remedial works “to prevent further accidents, loss of lives and property damage.”

The Congress also expressed concern over the gradual return of motorcycles within the Calabar metropolis despite an existing ban, calling for strict enforcement.

It warned that the unchecked operation of motorcycles and power bikes could “lead to injuries and fatalities,” adding that such vehicles were “sometimes reportedly used in criminal activities.”

The NUJ urged the Federal Road Safety Corps and other regulatory agencies to regulate their use, while calling on security agencies to “monitor and control the operations of these bikes within the city.”

On environmental safety, Congress observed that “several trees in Calabar and other major towns have overgrown, become hazardous, and threaten both lives and vehicular movement.”

It stressed the need for “periodic trimming and maintenance of such trees to prevent road blockages and accidents.”

The union also called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to effectively monitor the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, condemning a situation where “electricity is disconnected yet prepaid meter units continue to run.”

It described the development as “a matter of public concern that requires urgent attention.”

Congress further raised safety concerns over a high-rise building being erected beside the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar, noting that falling debris from the site had already damaged part of the Council’s property.

It said engagements with government officials revealed that the developer “has not met necessary regulatory requirements” and urged the property owner to comply with safety regulations “to reduce the several risks which individual Council members and the Secretariat have been exposed to.”