Impending floods: NAWOJ urges NEMA, stakeholders to intensify sensitization

By Miriam Humbe, Abuja

Following warnings of impeding flooding in parts of the country, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter have called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the media and other stakeholders to create more awareness on flood prevention to avert devastating consequences of not heeding the early warnings.

These were part of a seven-point communique issued at the end of the Congress of the NAWOJ, FCT Chapter, on Saturday, April 15, 2023, as jointly signed by the Chairperson, Comrade Annah Daniel and Secretary, Comrade Nkiru Okeke.

Also at  its Congress, NAWOJ commended Nigerian women for coming out en-masse to vote during the just concluded general elections.

The Association, however, frowned at the poor performances of women in politics, which is believed to be due to gross electoral malpractices bothering on vote buying, snatching of ballot boxes, intimidation, voter suppression amongst others.

The women journalists therefore urged  the incoming administration not to renege on the country’s commitment to 35 per cent affirmative action by appointing more women into key positions in the executive and the legislative arms.

Congress in session also condemned in strong terms the rising rate of sexually and gender based violence (SGBV) and called for strict enforcement of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act by state governments.

The Association further urged strong and deliberate synergy for advocacy amongst groups in fighting the menace, as well as expedite actions in metting out severe punishment to perpetrators to serve as deterrent to others.

NAWOJ FCT also urged the federal government to take proactive steps in rescuing the remaining kidnapped CHIBOK girls, lamenting that it had been nine years since the young girls were abducted.

The women journalists lamented the

difficulties experienced by many Nigerians, especially women and children, following the introduction of new naira notes and ban on the old notes.

They blamed it on poor planning and tasked the federal government, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to be proactive and ensure that the new notes would be in circulation before the new deadline of December 31, which is fast approaching.