The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, has commended the state government's ongoing urban renewal programme while calling for urgent intervention on the deteriorating Ikom–Wula–Obudu Highway.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Council's Congress held on June 3, 2026, at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar, and presided over by the Chairman of Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey.
The Congress lauded the rehabilitation of Azikiwe Street and Ewa Henshaw Street in Calabar South, noting that the roads had remained in poor condition for years due to neglect. Members expressed satisfaction with the government's efforts to improve infrastructure and ease movement within the area.
On the Ikom–Wula–Obudu Highway, the Congress appealed to Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu to fulfil his commitment by directing the immediate commencement of remedial work on the road. According to the Congress, the deplorable state of the highway poses serious risks to motorists and commuters and hampers the movement of agricultural produce and other economic activities along the corridor.
The journalists also called for more proactive environmental management across the state. They urged the Ministry of Environment to promptly remove fallen trees obstructing roads and conduct a comprehensive assessment of ageing and weakened trees, particularly within the Calabar metropolis, to prevent potential loss of lives and property.
Congress further expressed concern over the continued operation of scrap metal dealers despite the government's ban on the activity. It called on enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance with the directive, especially in Satellite Town and other parts of Calabar where the business is reportedly still flourishing.
The Congress also raised concerns over the activities of the Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) and the Calabar Traffic Regulatory Authority (CTRA), alleging that officials of the agencies have continued to harass motorists and transport operators under the guise of revenue generation.
Members noted that the state government had directed the agencies to focus on traffic management, regulation and road safety rather than revenue collection. Congress therefore urged the relevant authorities to investigate the operations of the agencies and ensure strict adherence to government directives in the interest of transparency, accountability and public confidence.
Presenting the State of the Union Address, the Chairman of Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, informed Congress that decent accommodation had been secured for Mr. Enya Ndem of the Correspondents' Chapel through the collaborative efforts of the Commissioner for Information, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the NUJ Cross River State Council and the Correspondents' Chapel.
She also disclosed that the Council had successfully leveraged an alternative energy facility installed at the Secretariat to provide regular power supply, thereby improving the working environment for members.
Comrade Bassey expressed appreciation to members for their continued support, commitment and cooperation, particularly their consistent attendance at Congress meetings despite the demands of the journalism profession.
The communiqué was drafted by a committee comprising Comrade Sunny Nku (Chairman), Comrade Esin Ukorobi and Comrade Itam Ekpe, and was adopted at the conclusion of the Congress on June 3, 2026.
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