By Anietie Akpan
The Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) Cross River State Council has expressed dismay at the current face off between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) limited over the supply of crude oil to the former.
Following the impasse, the masses are suffering buying petrol at exorbitant cost as the expected desire that Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief when Dongote Refinery comes on stream is now a far cry.
In communique at the end of its congress on July 24, endorsed by the State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Archibong Bassey, the Communique Drafting Committee Chairman and Chairman Correspondents’ Chapel), Comrade Eme Offiong, the Secretary of Council, Comrade Mike Abang and two others, the Union appealed to the NNPC to urgently resolve the lingering issues with the Dangote Refinery.
The Union in its five points communique said the urgent resolution of the impasse was necessary for “the overall interest of the suffering masses”.
On the planned nation wide protest by Nigerians ,the congress held at its Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar and presided over by the council Chairman, Comrade Bassey, enjoined the Federal and State Governments to appeal to peace loving Cross Riverians and other residents to embrace dialogue as the preferred alternative to the planned protest
The Union commended the Federal and State Governments for the palliatives given to organizations, groups and appealed that State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) should make the distribution process transparent as well as work with the media for accountability and fairness.
However, the Union charged the Federal and State Governments to “work towards phasing out distribution of palliatives and rather focus on food production”.
The Union noted with dismay the sudden surge of beggars purportedly struck by tumour in the metropolis giving a negative image to the state, which is a tourism destination and called on the ministries of Health, Environment and other relevant agencies to evacuate them from the metropolis.
