The Plateau State Government has approved the injection of N2 billion into its two media houses to enable the duo expand so as to meet to modern challenges, Information Commissioner Abraham Yiljap, has said.
Yiljap told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Wednesday that N1.5 billion was being sunk into the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), while the ailing Nigeria Standard newspapers would get N500 million.
“What we are doing is to revamp the two media houses to compete favourably with their counterparts and?effectively discharge their mandate to the people of Plateau and Nigeria in general.’’
He said?the?N500 million approved for the Nigerian Standard newspapers would be used in the purchase of a printing press,?vehicles and other newspaper consumables.
“Part of the money would also go into the procurement of three Hilux vehicles, one Toyota Corolla vehicle and one 500KVA Mikano generator.’’
Yiljap said?that it was the first time that a major revamp had been undertaken on the paper since its establishment in 1972.
The Commissioner said?the newspaper was being positioned to play a strategic role of serving as a reliable platform for the propagation of the interest of the people of the middle belt region “in view of the peculiar realities of socio-political trends in the country’’.
“Indeed, the Nigeria Standard that is being repositioned right now is not only to serve Plateau but the whole of the middle belt and even beyond,’’ he declared, adding that the paper would employ top professionals to do that.
Yiljap said that N44 million would be spent?to link?the paper with?online services so that its stables would be read on the?internet to widen the reach.
“We expect that the media houses would tell the Plateau and middle belt stories to the world in an objective and truthful manner.’’
He said the?paper's?publishing press would be expected to generate revenue to reposition the oufit for commercial viability and self-sustenance.
On the N1.5 billion earmarked?for the PRTVC, Yiljap?said that part of the fund?would be expended on the?modernisation and?digitisation of?equipment to boost the broadcasting stations'?outreach.
According to him, two additional transmission booster stations have been constructed in Dankang and Mangun to link all parts of the State with quality signals.
“The Dankang booster station, a television transmission, will cater for the?central and southern parts of the State, while the Mangun transmission booster station, which is a radio booster station, will serve the people of the southern part of the State.’’
He said that test transmissions had begun at Dankang booster station, while ?documentation had begun with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation for the streaming of PRTV progammes.
“Once the streaming is completed, PRTVC services can be streamed and accessed via the internet and satellite. That will boost the reach, improve listenership and attract more advertisements.’’?(NAN)