Sunshine FM hopes to put out light of insurgency

The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has inaugurated its FM station in Potiskum, Yobe State to broadcast, among others, programmes to educate listeners about ills of insurgency.   The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has established a Frequency Modulated Band FM station in Potiskum, Yobe State, to counter terrorism and extremism in the […]

The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has inaugurated its FM station in Potiskum, Yobe State to broadcast, among others, programmes to educate listeners about ills of insurgency.

 

The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has established a Frequency Modulated Band FM station in Potiskum, Yobe State, to counter terrorism and extremism in the state and the North-East.

Potiskum, the commercial town of the state, was once labeled as Boko Haram’s clearing house for recruitment. The revelation which was made by the former Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Usman Sani Kukasheka, also said efforts are ongoing to track those involved. But the Fika Emirate, in a statement signed by its Press Officer, Alhaji Ali Gimba frowned at the appellation by the army saying was “unfair and not in good light.”

The statement said the declaration was shocking and against joint effort towards fighting insurgency stressing that as partners in progress, the army should have brought the matter to the traditional institution to share intelligence in the spirit of synergy.

However, considering the revelation by the military and the reaction of the traditional institution, many believed that the establishment of the FM station was timely and would serve as a meeting point for both institutions in their efforts to champion the fight against all forms of crimes and insurgency.

The Director-General, FRCN, Dr Mansur Liman, said while commissioning the station that the station, named “Sunshine FM” will effectively counter Boko Haram insurgency.

He noted that the station will through its programmes disabused the minds of people against extremism, terrorism and all other forms of crime in the society.

Liman then directed the Zonal Director of the FRCN to ensure that the station is kept alive to serve the purpose for which it was established.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the station was supposed to commence transmission about four years ago but could not do so due paucity of funds and safety concerns. But hinging on importance of the radio station, a non-governmental organization, the North-East Regional Initiative, (NERI), renovated the structure, supplied equipment and paid for the installation. The station actually commenced test transmission for a month using the 5 kilowatts  though the transmitter has a 30 kilowatts capacity on 88.1 frequently modulation.

It was gathered that the station is expected to broadcast news, programmes and musicals aimed at educating, informing and entertaining the listeners across neighbouring states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Jigawa among others.

The General Manager of the station, Bappah Jakusko, said the staff of the FM were employed three years ago and temporary posted to other FM stations at Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa and Jigawa. He said the staff are expected to return this month to fully resume work.

The Zonal Director, Yahya Abdullahi Maikano, assured that the station will appreciate any assistance to remain on air to serve the purpose for which it was set up.

He thanked NERI for the support given the station to ensure its take-off and called for patronage as a way of complimenting the efforts of the government.

A resident who attended the commissioning of the station, Muhammad Rabiu Potiskum, described the FM as a unique opportunity for people in the region to be served with a programme that is devoid of political affiliation.

Another resident, MallamBabawuro, applauded the decision of the Federal Government to set up an FM station in the area, saying it will educate, entertain and inform the people of happenings and government policies and programmes. He assured that they will continue to patronize the station to serve the purpose for which it was established.

Malam Sani Mamuda is also a resident that welcomed the idea of establishing the station pointing out that based on narratives, the insurgency itself is all about misinformation. 

“Our people have been deceived to take arms against their own families. My expectation is for the FM to come up with programmes that would provide refined knowledge of Islam and religious tolerance,” he said.

The establishment of the station brings to two the number of radio stations in the state as the state government already has a station transmitting in Damaturu, the state capital.