The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate compensation for Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as well as victims of kidnapping across the country.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Council’s Congress held on Saturday at its Secretariat in Utako, Abuja.
The Congress expressed deep concern over the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, noting that many victims had lost valuable properties and continued to suffer physical, emotional and psychological trauma despite previous evacuation efforts by the Federal Government.
The Council urged the government to intensify diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to secure compensation for affected Nigerians and facilitate recovery of their properties, while pledging to sustain media advocacy on the plight of victims.
On security, the Congress was also worried over the persistent abduction of students, teachers and other innocent Nigerians, and called for a comprehensive compensation policy for kidnap victims, their families, and security personnel involved in rescue operations.
The communique also condemned the indiscriminate felling of mature trees across the FCT without replacement, describing the practice as environmentally unsustainable amid climate change concerns.
It called on the FCT Department of Parks and Recreation and the Development Control Department to ensure every felled tree is replaced and to strengthen environmental protection measures.
The Council further raised concerns over the rising number of destitute persons and street beggars in Abuja, urging the FCT Social Development Secretariat to implement sustainable rehabilitation programmes to tackle the humanitarian challenge.
In a related development, the NUJ condemned the harassment and intimidation of residents by individuals claiming to be members of government task forces in the FCT. It cited an incident witnessed by one of its members while heading to the Congress, in which men claiming to be task force operatives intercepted a vehicle, ordered a sick passenger to alight, and drove off with the vehicle.
The Union called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and relevant security agencies to investigate the activities of such operatives, identify those legally authorised to carry out enforcement duties, and prosecute impersonators.
The Congress also raised alarm over the security implications of the growing number of street beggars and destitute in the capital, recalling an incident in which one of its members was aggressively confronted while attempting to photograph a group of beggars near the ECOWAS Secretariat in Asokoro.
According to the Council, the journalist only escaped safely after an official convoy approached the scene.
The NUJ urged the FCT Minister and security agencies to take urgent steps to address the situation while ensuring the rights and dignity of vulnerable persons are respected.
The Union affirmed its commitment to promoting press freedom and advocating policies that advance national security, environmental sustainability, good governance and the welfare of Nigerians.
