The African Independent Television (AIT)/Raypower Radio Station’s Ozuoba, Rivers State, transmission facility has been scheduled to be demolished, but the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has made an appeal to the state government to reconsider.
The Rivers State Government represented Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio Station, with a 48-hour quit notice in the early hours of Tuesday, March 21, 2023. This led to the NUJ appeal.
The Media House was given 48 hours to leave its building in order to make way for a potential housing project, according to the resignation letter written by Ms. Ebere Dinnis Emenike, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works.
The Rivers State Government and Daar Communication Plc are at odds over the property where AIT and Raypower Radio Station established its transmission facility.
However, the Rivers State NUJ made a plea to the state government to reconsider its stance on the land dispute and cancel its proposal to demolish and seize the AIT property in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo, respectively,
The Council asked the state administration to begin talks with the media outlet so that a peaceful resolution could be reached.
Although the Union praised the State Government’s urban renewal strategy, it urged with it to balance justice with mercy.
The statement reads:
“We appeal to the Rivers State Government to review the quit notice given to Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio Station. The Press and the Rivers State Government have come a long way as partners in progress. We believe that proper negotiation and peaceful resolution of the land dispute will serve the Government and people of Rivers State better.
“Whatever the merit of the quit notice by the Rivers State Government to Daar Communications Plc, we would not want the world to see the Press in a fight with the Rivers State Government in view of our long standing mutual relationship. NUJ will not be happy to see a Media House in Rivers State been demolished over a land dispute that can be resolved peacefully and amicably”,
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