By FAVOUR NNABUGWU
Journalists in Abuja yesterday strongly protested against the demolition of the relaxation spot situated in the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ press centre in Utako, Abuja by the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCDA as the department accepted full responsibility for all that happened.
But for the intervention of acting chairman, Abuja chapter of NUJ, Abdulrasheed Abdukarim followed by the quick response of the National Secretary, NUJ, Mr. Shuaibu Usman Leman who went into a brief meeting with the Control Director, Alhaji Yahaya Yusuf and other management staff of the department to resolve and calm the situation.
Though, Leman described the approach that led to the commotion and seizures of cameras at both end as a gangster one and a mismanagement on the part of the development control due to over zealousness on the part of the site officer who did not communicate well with the journalists at the press centre.
The two cameras seized unfortunately belong to Gbenga Olamikan, AbujaVanguard Photographer who said that all the pictures he took during the demolition process and the chaos that ensued had been deleted by the department before the cameras were released to NUJ National Secretary.
However, Leman said, "What happened was as a result of over zealousness on the part of development control department officials. The first step we took was to retrieve the two cameras that were seized and the director graciously handed them over to me"
"The next step was to decongest the development control gate which was taken over by journalists so as to allow those that want to go out to do so after which we will go to the press centre to look at the damage done there".
"I am happy to say that everything is okay now and other relevant issues will be worked out between NUJ and the department".
Speaking, Development Control director, Alhaji Yahaya Yusuf promised to caution the department's officers in order to avert recurrence of such situation in future, commended the maturity and frankness with which the executive members of NUJ handled the situation
He said that the relationship that exists between the department and the NUJ has gone beyond any rancour that could cause ripples between the two bodies.
Yusuf explained that the department officers only to the press centre to re-validate the centre while he regretted the way and manner the site officer handled the whole process.
"I would have preferred to lead the team to NUJ press centre because of the relationship we have and all that happened would not have happened"
"Our officers only went to the press centre to re-validate the NUJ press centre and to assess what is on ground at centre because we do not want shanties in and around Abuja due to the security challenges in the country now especially in Abuja"
"Approvals are given for any action to be taken and we give the go ahead to district officers for whom we take responsibility for their action"
Vanguard Nigeria