“My Government Committed To Free Press” – Uzodimma, Dismayed Over Laying Of Pipes Indiscriminately

Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that his Shared Prosperity 3R Government of Imo State is, and will remain, committed to the pursuit of the tenets of free Press, noting that the role of the press in advancing the positive courses of the society cannot be underestimated.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, said Governor Uzodimma’s government will not only guarantee the practice of free Press in Imo State, but will continue to partner with the practitioners in the overall interest of the public.

Journalists all over the world marked the 2024 World Press Freedom Day on Friday, May 3, with the theme, A Press for the planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.

The statement added that Governor Uzodimma is on the same page with journalists practising in the State in particular, and Nigeria in general, as they celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, insisting that partnership between the government, stakeholders and the media practitioners is key to dealing with the issues that give the journalists cause for worry.

The statement further said that the Governor appreciates the theme for this year’s celebration as being apt, and in line with the thinking of government, at both sub national, national, continental and global levels, as regards to how to deal with critical societal challenges plaguing humanity of late.

The statement said Governor Uzodimma also used the opportunity to felicitate with members of the National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS) who collaborated with students of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies of the Imo State University to mark the occasion with the theme: The importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global crisis.

Nwachuku who was Keynote Speaker at the Imo State University event, assured the students studying journalism, on behalf of the Governor, that their future is bright, and that they should not be deterred by the things they consider as challenges, reminding them that his principal has done a lot to encourage journalism practice in Imo State and will continue to do so.

In another development,

in a Special Announcement by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Government has frowned at the indiscriminate laying and construction of pipelines in the State.

The announcement reads:

“The Government of Imo State has observed with dismay the illegal and  indiscriminate construction and laying of pipes in the streets of Owerri and other major towns in the state notwithstanding that

there is a subsisting law against such a practice.

“Government wishes to reiterate the fact that under no circumstances should a company or individual embark on digging and laying of pipes without a right of way approval from the relevant departments of government.

“Consequently,  any company or individual caught violating the law of right of way shall henceforth be arrested and prosecuted without any further warning.

“Please be warned”