The executives of the Imo Newspaper Publishers Association, INPA, and Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,Imo State Council have resolved the face-Off between newspaper vendors and the Imo state Environmental Transformation Commission, ENTRACO.
The executives brokered a truce between the parties at a meeting held on Monday in Owerri, the state capital.
In attendance at the meeting were Chairman of the INPA, Declan Anaele, Secretary, Leonard Ajokubi, the Chairman of the NUJ, Ifeanyi Nwanguma, the General Manager of ENTRACO, and the Special Adviser, Special Duties to the Governor, Chinasa Nwaneri.
It was gathered that government has mapped out a conducive area along Wetheral Road/Government House Roundabout for the newspaper vendors to ply their trade.
Ajokubi confirmed the resolution of the matter in a statement issued on Tuesday on the association’s WhatsApp platform.
He wrote; I am directed to inform the House that the problem between the ENTRACO and Newspaper Vendors has been resolved.
“The INPA EXCO and the NUJ Chairman met with relevant government authorities over the matter.
“After the discussion, the government mapped out a particular portion for vendors at Wetheral by Government House roundabout and the vendors accepted it.
“As we thank our members for showing solidarity to the vendors, we want to also seize this opportunity to call for a ceasefire.”
Recall that vendors selling newspapers and magazines at Government House Owerri Roundabout had a running battle with operatives of the ENTRACO.
The operatives last week confiscated and/or destroyed newspapers displayed for sale including tables belonging to the vendors for refusing to vacate an unapproved space at the roundabout.
