Polls: FRCN Assures Effective coverage

Chairman, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Board of Directors, Chief Boyelayefa Debekeme, has assured Nigerians that the corporation will cover the 2011 elections effectively.

Debekeme gave the assurance at the inauguration of FRCN ultra- modern newsroom on Monday in Abuja.

“With this world-class newsroom in place, the coverage of the 2011 elections will leave an indelible and positive mark on the political landscape of Nigeria.

“This will no doubt place an enormous task on the shoulders of the news directorate personnel and those of the other directorates that will be involved in the coverage,’’ he said.

The chairman said the board and management were prepared to provide the necessary tools for the operations of the organisation.

“Another advantage of having paperless operations is the reduction in the time needed for news production and delivery as well as the associated costs which will be channeled to other areas of need, ‘’ he said.

Debekeme added that the newsroom would enable the news directorate operate in a favourable atmosphere to inform and educate Nigerians on happenings around them.

He assured listeners of accurate, clear and timely delivery of news and programmes.

In his remark, Mr Yusuf Nuhu, Director-General of FRCN, said that the importance attached to digitalisation of the newsroom could not be over- emphasised.

He said the FRCN had inaugurated 20 FM stations across the country with a few yet-to-be-completed, adding that budget proposal for the project had been made.

“Efforts are being made to get spare parts for those of our FM stations which in one way or the other were affected by storm and other disasters,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Jonas Emechebe, Director of Engineering Services, FRCN, said that the corporation had two 500 kva stand- by generators to ensure smooth operations.

“We also have an 80kva Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) which we use as backup for all our equipment that can carry power supply for up to 30 to 35 minutes before changing to alternative source of power supply,’’ he added.