Jonathan to commission VON new transmitting antenna
The transmitting station project of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) embarked upon about five years ago has been completed and is set for commissioning by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku has tasked the organization to promote Nigeria’s Foreign Policy with the five billion Naira facility project.
Mr Maku spoke while inspecting the project at Lugbe, Abuja on his first day of duty, having been reappointed as Minister of Information and Communications.
ECOWAS community
According to the Minister, "every nation is trying to reach-out to the world and VON is needed to manage Nigeria’s image abroad”.  He pointed out that so many issues concerning Nigeria and her sister nations needed to be promoted in view of the leading role Nigeria plays within the ECOWAS Community and beyond.
He remarked that with the Transmission Station, Nigeria’s Foreign Policy would be taken worldwide in addition to educating Nigerians in the diaspora and expressed delight in the quality of work done, commending the VON management and the contractor.
Mr Maku directed the VON management to present a maintenance plan for the facility and see to the proper fencing and security of the perimeter.
Earlier, the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, who conducted the minister around the site, said the facility stood on 120 hectares of land.
Boosting international coverage
The Director General explained that the station consisted of a Broadcasting House, Transmission Station and Electrical Unit. According to him, the facility had the capacity to broadcast in digital and analogue systems on the short wave band. "The new transmitters will expand the international coverage of the station to be heard worldwide," he said.
Some of the equipment installed on the facility include three Transmitters, two heavy duty 1000 KVA generators, one domestic generator, two fixed athena and one rotating antenna.
Jijiwa pointed out that the rotating Antenna was designed to transmit signals to distances which the fixed type cannot reach such as countries like Chile and India.
The VON Boss, said that all the equipment procured were digitally compliant. in his words; "the facility is yet to be officially handed over by the contractor since full payment has not been made for the job done."
He noted that the Ministry of Finance had approved the payment of the next stage of the project and that VON was in the process of paying.
Jijiwa also stated that President Jonathan had approved the procurement of 33kv high tension lines needed to power the station and that delivery would be made in two weeks.
He used the occasion to congratulate the Minister on his reappointment as Information and Communications Minister and prayed that God would empower him while pledging the support of VON for his success.
Present during the inspection where the management and staff of VON, Directors of Public Communication and Public Relations and Protocols in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Charles Chikezie and Mr. Samuel Ajayi.
FMIC/Iheanacho |
