“The success of any news organisation in getting good reports depends on the agility and determination of the reporters. The logistics of straight newsgathering coupled with the location and means of transportation are essential for good coverage” (Duyile, 2005, p.37). I add that these could be achieved provided that the media owner(s) do the needful.
By Muhammad Sajo
The public media organisations in Sokoto State – Rima Radio/Rima FM, Rima Television (RTV), as well as The Path Newspaper stations have been in comma. One should not completely blame the present State government for the miserable situation of the stations as they suffer neglect from successive governments.
However, the Ahmad-Ali government which is termed media friendly (judging by the body gesture of the Governor since time immemorial), is expected to salvage the situation from the outset of his stewardship. Serious neglect of especially the grassroots media specifically the Rima Radio, made the historic edifice at Tudunwada Sokoto to be lost to a different organisation during the immediate past government of Sokoto State under Barrister Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Go to most stations in Nigeria which are mates to Rima Radio station, the architectural design is the same as the structure was designed to house radio broadcast and programming with the main studio(s) at the ‘centre’ provided with sound proofing on walls to aid accurate recording of programmes and events.
The philosophy of building radio broadcast stations at the city centre is based on the fact that radio is the closest medium to the masses hence, should be accessible to them. Many right-thinking members of the society with expertise in media matters fault the neglect of the Rima Radio edifice at Tudunwada. The problem emanated from the era of Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa when the government of the day decided to have the new Rima Television it established in the same premises with the radio management at the Birnin Kebbi road RTV site.
The then government provided additional structures to house the radio hence the new normenclature of Sokoto State Media Corporation (SSMC) from the then Sokoto State Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC). During the outset of the government of Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in 2007, the Rima Radio Tudunwada transmitting station was totally rehabilitated from its dilapidated nature with perhaps the aim of relocating the station to its original location. However, lack of provision of equipment and furnishing plus other factors hindered the move. Despite that, certain skeletal services (such as recording of programmes) were taking place at the complex at the time.
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Existing studios especially the biggest one at the ‘seized’ Rima Radio Tudunwada complex were designed without windows hence, were purpose-made for large and medium recordings, not as office accommodation or public meetings. It will be extremely difficult to manipulate the architectural function of the radio station for other uses without destroying it. The structure was therefore forced to perform the function for which it was not designed. The organisation currently occupying the edifice and the radio station are all important and necessary agencies of Sokoto State government but, it is necessary that the government should dot the I’s and cross the T’s.
Back to the main discourse encompassing the entire state-owned media stations, it has been observed that RTV, Rima Radio/Rima FM and The Path Newspaper have not been functioning effectively. The electronic media are noted to be bedevilled with poor reception (due to obsolete transmitting equipment among others). Besides these, RTV has not been appearing on some of the popular satellite broadcasting outfits such as the Startimes, like before. The path Newspaper has been out of production for long. Efforts are observed in producing online copies by the committed personnel in charge for quite some time.
All the aforementioned problems of the media organs have been in existence long before the takeoff of the Ahmad Aliyu government in Sokoto State. These problems may not be unconnected with lack of the necessary material resources for their upkeep apart from refurbishing and provision of up-to-date equipment for their smooth operation. Chief executives appointed to man the stations cannot do miracles when funds are not available at least, for the running of the stations. It should be noted that public media organisations by their nature are not revenue generating agencies. They are mostly established to provide social services to the public. The little fund they can generate as income from advertisements is often used to augment what they receive from the government as running cost. The media are organisations are observed to be lacking adequate functional operational vehicles coupled with dilapidated structures and inadequate as well as outdated equipment. These are among the problems inherited by Ahmed Aliyu government of Sokoto state which ought to be salvaged because, information is power, and good governance can be achieved through effective dissemination of information to the governed with the aid of the media organs.
Another solution to the myriads of issues discussed are that, the Government of the day under the leadership of Dr Ahmed Aliyu is hereby advised to take urgent steps to remedy the situation through first, provision of reasonable monthly subventions to the stations for their running expenditures to enable them to survive. The government should provide sound operational vehicles for the stations as well as the equipment for effective coverage of events and broadcasting/publishing. The dilapidated nature of the stations should also be addressed by the Government. A stitch in time saves nine.
Sajo is a journalist and lecturer at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto
