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Radio station demolition… Nasarawa government says no compensation

By Abel Abogonye, Lafia
30 May 2017   |   2:41 am
Nasarawa State Government has maintained its resolution not to compensate Breeze 99.9 FM radio station despite pressure from stakeholders. The decision of the state government was conveyed through the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Absulhamid Kwara....

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa State

Nasarawa State Government has maintained its resolution not to compensate Breeze 99.9 FM radio station despite pressure from stakeholders. The decision of the state government was conveyed through the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Absulhamid Kwara, in a press conference last Thursday held at the ministry’s conference hall in Lafia.

Kwara maintained that the government acted within its constitutional function by demolishing Breeze FM for failure to comply with urban laws. Kwara affirmed that the station, after being served notice of non-compliance by Nasarawa Urban Development Board, failed to comply, hence the demolition.

While responding to questions filed by journalists on the duration of the notice before demolition, Kwara, however, failed to establish the time lapses before demotion.

Another reason given by the government for clamping down on the station was to prevent health hazards associated with transmission radiation, adding, “Government is not under any obligations to compensate Breeze FM whatsoever. Anybody or group calling for that is their opinion.”

During an investigation visit over the demolition of Breeze FM two days ago, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) empathised with the station over the unfortunate incidence of the demolition after two months of commissioning. The investigating delegation, which was led by a director in the commission, Mrs. Franca Ayetan, urged the proprietor of Breeze FM, Dr. Nawani Aboki, not to deny the people the frequency where their voices would be held.

According to Ayetan, “We are in an information highway. You can operate the frequency from your bedroom because you have your licence. We would not want the frequency to go dormant even though the demolition.”

Ayetan assured that the commission would get to the root of the causes of the demolition, adding that the commission was not only under mandate to issue licences, but to moderate and protect the broadcast industry.

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