Return of Wazobia FM excites Kano listeners

Before its closure, it had succeeded in generating a larger listener base in the state because of  popular programmes like- Sandar Girma and Kasuwar Bukata. No wonder when it was reopened recently many radio listeners were excited about it. One of them, Musa Ibrahim Dansamari, who said he listens to Wazobia popular programmes every time […]

Before its closure, it had succeeded in generating a larger listener base in the state because of  popular programmes like- Sandar Girma and Kasuwar Bukata. No wonder when it was reopened recently many radio listeners were excited about it.
One of them, Musa Ibrahim Dansamari, who said he listens to Wazobia popular programmes every time told our reporter that, “I used to listen to both Sandar Girma and Kasuwar Bukata. These programmes really generated listeners for Wazobia FM .  In fact, I can tell you that at that time none of the FM stations had the number of listeners that Wazobia had.”
He  added that anytime the station started the programmed “listeners used to record them while listening in order to share them among their friends. Unfortunately, one of the programmes put them in mess.”  He expressed worry that on its return, those interesting programmes that used to endear the FM to its listeners were no longer aired by the station. “Now what they air is normal musicals.”
When our correspondent contacted the acting head of the station, who gave his name as Aboki, he promised to speak on its return when he got approval to do so from the station’s headquarters in Lagos.
However, when Sunday Trust visited the radio station’s office in Kano it observed normal operation has resumed there has started running its programmes and people were seen trooping in and out of its premises to do business.
Media professionals who spoke to our correspondent expressed mixed reactions. Though not happy with the way it was closed down, they said the radio station needs to be more professional in the way it airs its programmes. According to Malam Ibrahim Ahamad, “It is good they are back on air, the only thing is that both government and the media organization should be more careful.  They should work in line with the ethics of the journalism profession”.
Also a retired journalist, Malam Umar Jibril said, the station’s  programmes  were aired at a very wrong time. But still no one except the court, could say their programmes caused the killing of polio workers.”
For Khalid Iman,  a Wazobia listener in Kano, the development was a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of the owners of the FM station. He argued its closure was wrong because it was just an attempt by government to silence them. “Silencing media organization is dangerous for our democracy. They were denied their fundamental human rights to voice out their opinion. They have the right as a media station to inform, educate and entertain the general public,” Khalid said
Iman said they should discharge their duty without fear or favour while respecting the law of the land. “They should be more professional in discharging their duty and avoid anything provocative or considered to be instigative. The media is a stakeholder in the effort to develop our country.”
Umar, however, commended NBC for its action. He insisted that was not the first time a media house was suspended. “To me NBC’s action shows that despite the challenges there is law in the country”, he said.
The Kano office of Wazobia FM was closed down by the NBC  in February following an Hausa programme, Sandar Girma that it aired, which the broadcasting authority found instigative against the polio immunization programme in the state.