If the recent steps taken by the Kebbi State Government to digitalize the state-owned television and radio stations go the way it is expected, television viewers and radio audience might begin to enjoy better services of their darling Kebbi Television and Kebbi Radio.
The media stations that were established by the then military administration shortly after Kebbi State was created in 1991, had over the years suffered neglect and were starved of funds despite the important role the media outfits are playing in the social-economic and political integration of the state.
Despite the crop of experienced staff the media stations parade, the robust, entertaining and educative programmes they dish out, their audiences across the 21 local government areas of the state appear to have been denied their entertaining programmes for long due to the poor reception that characterize dissemination of information at the stations.
These challenges couple with the obsolete transmission equipment and poor funding was a draw back until the present effort by the state government to reposition the outfits.
Out of the 21 local government areas of the state, with the exception of Birnin Kebbi where the stations are located, only few other areas such as Kalgo, Jega and Argungu gets the reception of the radio and as well watch the television because of their closeness to the state capital. Audiences in places like Zuru, Suru, Yauri, Shanga, Ngaski, Dandi, Danko/Wasagu, Fakai and others hardly gets the radio and television reception.
However, hope came for the state-owned radio and television stations when Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu announced the determination of his administration to reposition the stations for better coverage and reception to serve the people and help government to cover and spread its programmes and policies effectively.
The governor, who agreed that the stations had been greatly affected in the discharge of its duty over the years because of poor reception and coverage, said his administration was not unaware of the challenges but it was only taking its time to ensure that only a competent organization is brought in to reposition them for better services.
In fulfillment of its determination to address the challenges a contract of N731 million was awarded to WED Nigeria PLC for the digitalization of the stations. The digitization is expected to be completed in eight months.
During the official signing of the contract, the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Musa Hassan Kalgo said the digitalization were long overdue given the importance of their coverage of government policies, programmes and dissemination of information and entertainment of the people.
He said it was for their importance that the administration has decided to not only reposition them but digitalize them to make the stations competitive in the media industry.
He observed that “It is a good thing that the present administration in the state is fulfilling the desire of the people by way of digitalizing the state television and radio stations to make them more vibrant and efficient.”
The commissioner added that the digitization would boost their reach within and outside the state.
He maintained that with the signing of the contract, the stations would serve the government and Kebbi State better than they were doing some years back. “When the digitalization project is completed Kebbi TV and Kebbi Radio would reach more people in different communities in the state and beyond,” he said.
The Managing Director, WED Nigeria PLC, Engineer Adamu Musa Hassan after signing the contract, promised the state government that his company would do a good job and ensure that the stations take their place of pride in the media industry.
Engineer Hassan who said his company had helped to dititalized about 13 media stations in the country within the 20 years of its establishment, commended the state government for the confidence that was reposed in it.
