Kogi Government Hands Over Okene Broadcasting Corporation Project Site to Contractor
Kogi State Government has handed over the site for a new Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation facility in Okene, with Widerview Ltd expected to complete the project within 16 weeks.
OKENE, Kogi State
The Kogi State Government has formally handed over the site for the construction of a new facility for the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation (KSBC) in Okene, in a move aimed at strengthening broadcasting infrastructure and expanding the reach of state-owned broadcasting services.
The handover ceremony brought together key officials, including the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Taiye Abanika; Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo; Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic Media, Hon. Yussuf Adebayo Ohiare; and the Director-General of the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Princess Nana Awa Yusuf.
The project is being executed by Widerview Ltd, with a completion period of 16 weeks. The development forms part of broader measures by the state government to improve the infrastructure and operational capacity of the Broadcasting Corporation, including interventions at its Okene and Ochaja stations.
The formal handover follows the recent approval of broadcasting-sector interventions by the State Executive Council. Among the approved measures are the renovation of the Corporation’s headquarters in Lokoja and the installation of solar power systems at its radio stations in Ocheja and Okene.
Speaking on the development, Fanwo described the project as a significant step in strengthening the capacity of the state-owned broadcaster to effectively serve the people.
He noted that broadcasting remains an important link between government and citizens, particularly in communicating government policies, programmes and initiatives while providing a platform for wider public participation in governance.
Fanwo commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his commitment to improving the broadcast sector and providing infrastructure that would enable the Corporation to operate more effectively.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Commissioner Abanika and his ministry to the delivery of the project, describing the collaboration between the relevant ministries as important to translating the administration’s plans for the sector into tangible infrastructure.
The new facility is expected to provide a more suitable operational environment for Radio Kogi in Okene and strengthen its ability to reach communities within Kogi State and beyond. Reports from the handover ceremony indicated that the location at Okeneba was selected partly because of its elevated terrain, although the rocky nature of the site is expected to require additional technical attention during construction.
Commissioner Abanika said the project reflected the administration’s broader infrastructure programme and stressed the need for the construction to conform to the approved designs, specifications and bill of quantities.
The consulting team and contractor are expected to work closely throughout the construction period to address the technical requirements of the site and ensure value for the funds committed to the project.
The Director-General of the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Princess Nana Awa Yusuf, described the project as a landmark development for the Corporation.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for approving the construction of the Okene facility as well as the renovation and branding of the Corporation’s headquarters in Lokoja.
Yusuf also appealed to residents and youths in Okeneba and Okene Central to support the project and protect the facility when completed, noting that the development would provide the Corporation with greater capacity to disseminate information and serve the public.
The project is coming at a time when the state government is undertaking wider interventions in the broadcasting sector. The Executive Council had earlier approved measures covering the Corporation’s headquarters and its transmission facilities, alongside plans for regular government media briefings to improve public access to information on government activities.
With the site now formally handed over, construction is expected to proceed with the contractor working towards the stipulated 16-week delivery period.
The new broadcasting facility is expected to further strengthen Radio Kogi’s operational base in the central senatorial area and contribute to the state government’s efforts to improve public information dissemination across Kogi State.