Ekiti Govt. spends N1.5 billion on Broadcast Stations

Desirous to bring the State owned broadcasting stations at par with other television and radio stations in the country, Ekiti State Government has committed N1.5 billion to the procurement of equipment and renovation broadcast stations.

Giving situation report to the State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni on the level of work done by the contractor handling the project, Director General of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), Dr. Segun Aderiye said work had reached advance stage.

Aderiye, who disclosed that equipment being installed at the station included two digital transmitters, one Outside Broadcasting Van, four Tranposer (Booster Stations), two generating sets and brand new studio equipment, said the four booster stations would be installed at Efon/Okemesi axis, Ikere, Omuo and Otun.

Speaking further, the Director General, who noted that the broadcast stations used to have only one analogue transmitter that was purchased 14 years ago and one studio, noted that four new studios are now being constructed to serve the television and radio stations.

While thanking the governor for his efforts at giving Ekiti State a broadcast outfits that can compete favourably with others in the country, Aderiye said; “We are proud of what we already have on ground and I am sure by the end of this month, we should be talking about commencing test transmission.

“With the equipment that are being put in place now, I can confidently beat my chest and say that when we resume transmission, there is nothing that CNN does with its television that we won't be able to do. Also, the idea of 24 hours transmission is feasible.”

 
Commenting on the transfer of some of the stations workers to ministries and parastatals in the State, the Director General, who debunk the claim that workers are being victimised said; “What we have done is to keep a few of our staff for the skeletal works that we are doing. Don't forget that the Ifaki AM station is in operation and people must be there to work.

“But what we have done basically is to second our staff to ministries and parastatals where they will be useful temporarily. I don't think any responsible government will leave its workforce idle while there are works to be done elsewhere or allow workers into offices where constructions works are going on. As at today, BSES workers are still receiving their salaries from here.”

Responding, Governor Oni, who reiterated the commitment of his administration to transformation of the BSES into a truly professional broadcasting outfit, has said that the Broadcasting Service disclosed that the state AM station at ifaki-Ekiti would be upgraded into a Frequency Modulation (FM) station that would broadcast exclusively in Ekiti and Yoruba languages.

“With what we are putting there, it is obvious that our dream of a world-class broadcast station is realisable. It is evidently clear that by the time the television and radio stations begin operation again, it is no longer going to be the 'daku daji' (epileptic) television and radio stations that we used to have,” the governor said.

 


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