By PETER UWUMAROGIE
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GOMBE- Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Monday sympathised with journalists in the state over a fire incident that razed the office of Gombe Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, representing Yahaya, visited the office to assess the level of damage.
He stated that the government was concerned about the wellbeing, security and safety of journalists in the state, hence the visit to commiserate and identify with them over the fire incident.
The governor directed the executive of the NUJ to liaise with the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Meshack Lauco, to see what could be done to assist the chapel.
“The correspondents’ chapel members are our partners; we have no choice than to keep them comfortable.
“Please take heart. For us as a government, we will do whatever we can to support you,” he said.
While appreciating the state government, Hajara Leman, the chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, expressed gratitude to the state government for its concern and offer for assistance.
“We are grateful for your presence here to commiserate with us,” the chairman said.
Leman, while briefing the governor earlier, had said the office had been previously burgled three times.
“Working tools, including office equipment like air conditioners, ceiling fans, stabilisers, two flat screen televisions, bus tyres and other valuables were stolen before this fire incident,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that fire gutted the Correspondents’ Chapel in the early hours of Monday, which took men of the Gombe State Fire Service over two hours to put it out.
NAN also reports Lauco, the Director-General of Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Uba-Misilli and members of his team, including the state NUJ council chairman, Saidu Malala, were among those who visited the Correspondents’ Chapel.
Others are Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) chairperson in the state, Talatu Lamon, among other dignitaries. (NAN)