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‎The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has condemned the alleged harassment of some journalists by hoodlums during the flag-off of the second Akure flyover, warning that any threat to press freedom would not be tolerated.
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‎The union made its position known in a seven-point communiqué issued at the end of its monthly congress held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Press Centre, Pen Crescent, Alagbaka, Akure.
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‎The congress, presided over by the Chairman of the Council, Leke Adegbite, was attended by NUJ members from chapels across the state and deliberated on issues of public concern, including security, infrastructure, environment, politics, economy, agriculture and the welfare of journalists.
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‎According to the communiqué signed by the State Secretary, Olaoluwa Meshack, some journalists were allegedly harassed by hoodlums led by one Temitope Romeo during the flag-off ceremony of the flyover on the Oyemekun-Oba Adesida-St Mathias Road.
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‎The union alleged that the hoodlums paraded themselves as staff of the construction company handling the project, describing the incident as unprovoked harassment of journalists carrying out their professional duties.
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‎The NUJ called on Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the Bulletin Construction Company to rein in Romeo and his associates, stressing that the union would not condone any action capable of threatening press freedom or obstructing journalists from performing their duties.
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‎The congress, however, congratulated Governor Aiyedatiwa and residents of Akure on the successful flag-off of the second flyover, urging the contractor handling the project to accelerate the pace of work and ensure its completion as scheduled.
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‎It also called on the state Ministries of Infrastructure and Transport to remove what it described as unnecessary tricycle and motorcycle parks along Arakale Road, noting that the road serves as a major alternative route for motorists during the construction of the flyover.
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‎On the persistent strange odour in Akure and its environs, particularly at night, the NUJ expressed concern over the situation and urged the state government to fast-track proactive measures to identify its source and find a permanent solution.
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‎The congress also raised concern over the reported non-availability of vehicle number plates in the state, calling on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies to stop sanctioning motorists without number plates due to the scarcity. It urged the state government to intervene and make the plates readily available. 

The union further passed a vote of confidence in the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, for his contributions to the journalism profession and efforts to provide a conducive working environment for newsrooms across the state.
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