Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola has expressed shock and deep sadness at the untimely passage on Friday of three members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), two of whom are from the Lagos State council in a ghastly motor accident.
The journalists are Chairman, Federal Radio Corporation of NUJ chapel, Olatunde Ojenike, national Secretary of NUJ, Mr. Adolphus Okonkwo and Financial Secretary of the Lagos State chapter, Kafayat Odunsi who works with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
They were returning from Abuja on national assignment when the NUJ 18-seater bus reportedly lost control after losing one the tyres at Ilesha, resulting in the accident. In his condolence message signed by the Special Adviser on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello, the governor said it was regrettable that the journalists lost theirs lives in the cause of promoting the interest of their profession as they were returning from a meeting.
In the message, the governor said his thoughts and prayers were with members of the Union at this most difficult times, adding that he was quite saddened by the most unfortunate incident. He prayed to God to grant sweet repose to the souls of the departed journalists and that God grant the families and loved ones they left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss while also wishing the injured ones rapid recovery.
Also reacting, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Aderemi Ibirogba described the incident as a big blow on the journalism profession stating that it was unfortunate that our colleagues had to suffer this fate while on union assignment.
