*Expresses Sympathy *Promises to bankroll medical expenses *Assist victims’ families
By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
The management of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) on Saturday paid a sympathy visit to the 13 journalists involved in a road accident while covering the commissioning and handover of the Commission’s completed projects in Bauchi State.
The delegation visited the injured journalists who are receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where they sympathised with them and offered prayers for their quick recovery.
The NEDC delegation was led by the Commission’s General Manager for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Batulu Isa Mohammed, who had, earlier visited the victims at the scene of the accident, and facilitated their emergency medical treatment at Duguri and at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).
The delegation also included the NEDC Bauchi State Coordinator, Alhaji Aliyu Isiyaku, alongside other officials.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Batulu Isa Mohammed expressed concern over the incident, assuring the injured journalists and their families of the Commission’s readiness and willingness to support them regain their health by the grace of Allah.
Dr. Batulu offered special prayers for their speedy recovery and conveyed the Commission’s sympathy to their families, assuring them of NEDC’s solidarity during the difficult period.
The Humanitarian Affairs Manager, described journalists as partners in progress whose contributions are critical to the Commission’s work and the overall development of the North-East and the country at large, adding that the Commission would continue to closely monitor the medical situation of the injured journalists until they are fully recovered.
The accident occurred on Friday when a vehicle conveying 13 journalists from various media organisations was involved in a crash along the Yashi-Yelwan Duguri Road in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Earlier, in a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Services of the Commission, Abba Musa, the NEDC Governing Board, Management and Staff expressed their heartfelt sympathies to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), particularly the Bauchi State Council, as well as the Bauchi State Government over the unfortunate incident.
The Commission disclosed that its Governing Board had approved the provision of full medical support for the injured journalists, as well as assistance to their families. It added that efforts were already underway to engage the affected media organisations and families of the victims.
