By Adegboyega Segun
The Kogi State Government has commenced plans to construct a befitting permanent structure for Radio Kogi, Okeneba, as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s broadcast infrastructure and enhance service delivery to the people of Kogi Central.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed this during the presentation of a cheque to the landowner for the acquisition of land designated for the project.
According to the Commissioner, the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to providing the station with a modern facility that will improve broadcasting operations and better serve the people of the area.
He noted that while Radio Kogi currently operates from permanent structures in Lokoja, Ochaja and Egbe, Okeneba remains the only station without a permanent operational base, describing the situation as unacceptable.
“We currently have permanent structures at Lokoja, Ochaja and Egbe. The only place we do not have a permanent structure for our radio station is here in Okeneba. This is unacceptable, and we will repay our staff’s years of sacrifice here,” he said.
Fanwo explained that the project would rank among the landmark achievements of the Ododo Administration in the information and communications sector, stressing that the government remains committed to leveraging the broadcast media to deepen public participation in governance and foster social inclusion.
“This is going to be one of the legacy projects of the Ododo Administration as we continue to leverage our broadcast media to mobilize our people for participation in governance and inclusion,” he added.
The Commissioner commended the staff of the station for their resilience and dedication despite operating under challenging conditions over the years.
“I want to thank our staff here for their decades of sacrifice and for continuing to deliver despite the uncomfortable environment,” he stated.
In a related development, Hon. Fanwo announced that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has approved funds for the rehabilitation of critical facilities at the station to restore transmission services after more than eight weeks of downtime caused by equipment failure.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has approved funds to replace some faulty facilities that have kept us off air at Okeneba for over eight weeks. We apologize to our people and assure them that we will soon resume transmission with better service delivery,” he said.
The Commissioner also expressed appreciation to the host community for its continued support and cooperation, assuring residents that Radio Kogi Okeneba would continue to promote the rich cultural heritage, values and aspirations of the people of Kogi Central.
The planned construction of a permanent station and the rehabilitation of its transmission facilities underscore the commitment of the Ododo Administration to strengthening government-owned media platforms as vital tools for information dissemination, civic engagement and cultural preservation.
On the Commissioner’s entourage was the Director General of the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Princess Nana Hauwa Yussuff; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr Awulu Tijani David; the Technical Assistant to the Ministry, Mr Ebenezer Adurodija; the Director of Accounts, Mr Haruna Yakubu and other top officials of the Ministry.
Adegboyega Segun
