…Urges PPMC to Act Fast
By Udeme Boniface Hosea
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council has called on the Akwa Ibom State Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee(PPMC) to immediately enforce safety standards on cooking gas retail outlets in the Uyo metropolis, warning that unregulated gas plants pose serious safety hazards.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of its Congress on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the NUJ Press Centre and jointly signed by Comrade Nsibiet John, State Chairman and Comrade Nsikak Esenowo, State Secretary, the Union said the indiscriminate siting of gas outlets in residential areas and markets threatens lives and property.
“Congress called on the Akwa Ibom State Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee (PPMC) to urgently regulate the proliferation and operations of cooking gas retail outlets across the State, noting that the indiscriminate establishment of gas plants poses serious fire and safety risks if left unchecked,” the statement read.
Congress also called on the state government to establish a stand-alone Fire Service Agency equipped with modern facilities to improve emergency response.
The Union also passed a Vote of Confidence on the Comrade Nsibiet John-led State Working Committee, citing purposeful leadership in its first year. It appreciated Governor Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D., for approving the Weigh-in Allowance for state-employed journalists and for promising a bus to the Union.
On the environment, Congress decried the indiscriminate disposal of waste that blocks drainage channels and urged the enactment of legislation compelling residents to desilt gutters around their premises. It also called on the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare to develop sustainable measures to address the rising presence of mentally challenged persons across the State in the interest of public safety.
Meanwhile, Congress ratified the naming of the NUJ Conference Room after Comrade Israel Umoh in recognition of his legacy. It also urged journalists in the state to embrace specialized reporting in Aviation, the Judiciary, and the Blue Economy.
