By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, has urged the government of Anambra State to strictly enforce the ban on roadside touting in the state, especially at Upper Iweka area in Onitsha, where touts devise various means to rob and extort unsuspecting victims.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo had, on assumption of office, banned touting on the roads and even made some arrests to that effect. But it is still persisting.

In a 10-point communique released after its June monthly Congress, it frowned at the continued heavy gridlock on the River Niger Bridge due to the attitude of transporters picking up passengers on the Onitsha Bridge and called on the government to intervene to end the anomaly.

The Congress also condemned the rascality of Keke and Shuttle drivers who have continued to disrupt the free-flow of traffic along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, notably around the Regina Caeli junction, UNIZIK Temporary site, and the Aroma Junction.

The communique signed the state Chairman, Comrade Emeka Odogwu, Comrade Aloysius Ofodile,

Secretary, and four members of the Communique Draftimg Committee, read in part: "The Congress commended the state government's efforts to reduce

crime rate in the state, even as it lauded the joint efforts of the security agencies

at tracking and arresting some of the perpetrators of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state.

"The Congress expressed dismay over the threat posed by criminal gunmen to workers in some local government headquarters in the state, including some Union members who get series of threat messages from hoodlums and arsonists, notifying them of likely attacks on their stations. It called on the government to expedite efforts to ensure safety of workers at the LG council headquarters.

"The Congress frowned at the reluctance of the security agencies and the state Government to keep the media updated on their successes in fighting crime and insecurity, hence leaving journalists with no option than to report more on the attacks by gunmen than on successes of security agencies.

"The Congress condemned the existence of numerous potholes on the major roads and the adjoining roads in Awka, especially Nodu - Goodwill junction, Y junction – UNIZIK, among many others, and urged the Governor

Chukwuma Soludo-led government to do the needful by carrying out palliative work on the damaged portions of the roads to saveresidents from further suffering.

"The Congress called the attention of the state government to the heaps of refuse constituting nuisance at different corners of the state, urging it to urgently take action in this regard.

"The Congress also appealed to the state government to look into the problem of electricity supply in the state as well as the state of the streetlights which have gone out for several weeks now."

The Congress further frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of some INEC officials and reported extortion of Nigerians registering for voter's cards at different parts of the State by the officials of the Commission.