The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has launched a comprehensive modernization of its broadcast infrastructure across the North-East zone, aiming to enhance regional service delivery and accelerate its transition to digital broadcasting.
The initiative was disclosed by Alhaji Darihu Mohammed, the FRCN North-East Zonal Director, during a working visit to Radio Nigeria Gift FM in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Mohammed credited the swift rollout of the transformation to the vision of FRCN Director-General, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, alongside a strategic partnership with the Nort- East Development Commission (NEDC).
According to the Zonal Director, the upgrades are part of a broader, nationwide drive to equip FRCN stations with state-of-the-art broadcast facilities while simultaneously building human resource capacity through continuous staff training and retraining programs.
A major highlight of the regional intervention is the transition to renewable energy. Through the support of the NEDC, six out of the seven FRCN stations in the North-East have now been connected to solar power systems.
The shift to solar is expected to dramatically cushion the stations against skyrocketing electricity tariffs and the prohibitive costs of diesel fuel, ensuring uninterrupted broadcasting across the region.
In tandem with the power upgrades, the stations have received new transmitters, modern broadcast consoles, and vital technical equipment. The zonal office has also distributed additional computers and digital tools to improve overall day-to-day operational efficiency.
Alhaji Mohammed noted that these investments have already yielded a noticeable improvement in the quality and reliability of FRCN’s signals. He urged editorial and technical staff to leverage the new installations to produce more professional, impactful, and audience-centric programming.
Furthermore, the Director revealed that the corporation is aggressively expanding its digital footprint. By embracing convergence journalism and multimedia content production, FRCN aims to significantly widen its online reach and engage audiences across various social media platforms.
Welcoming the development, the General Manager of Radio Nigeria Gift FM, Jalingo, Mr. Emmanuel Jim-Elisha, described the intervention as a gamechanger for local operations. He stated that the newly installed equipment would vastly improve transmission quality and widen the station’s coverage area within and beyond Taraba State.
Jim-Elisha expressed his gratitude to Dr. Bulama’s management team and the NEDC, assuring the listening public of a stronger, clearer transmission and enhanced programming in the months ahead.