From HASSAN JIRGI Damaturu
Yobe State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego has stressed the need for more financial backing to reinvigorate the state’s media outfit, especially Yobe Television, YTV, for better performance.
Bego made the appeal when he led the management of the ministry and chief executives of various agencies under the ministry for the 2025 bilateral budget discussion.
The bilateral discussion, which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Hamidu Babi took place in Damaturu.
The commissioner stated that it is high time for the state to have a standard television house that will not only defend the interest of the people, but compete favourably with other television stations across the country.
He said analysis showed that the equipment of the television station is obsolete to the extent that repairing it is as good as wasting public funds, taking into cognisance the modern and portable means of setting and operating a television station.
“If individual organisations and associations can establish, manage and operate modern satellite television stations 24/7, I see no reason why we as a state will continue spending huge sums on old technologies that are out of tune with today’s realities.
“It is quite unfortunate that we rely on other stations to air our stories due to their reach, as such we must work towards rejuvenating our media outfits for better wider coverage and services,” Bego stated.
He said plans had reached an advanced stage towards providing digital equipment for the state Printing Corporation, while for the state Radio, Yobe Broadcasting Corporation, very soon the signal, especially FM will cover the northern part of the state and even beyond.
He commended the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for its untiring efforts towards ensuring a realistic and people- oriented budget proposal.
