by crossriverwatch admin
The commencement of the test transmission of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Canaan Fm in Calabar was as a result of the intervention fund provided by Hon. Nkoyo Esu Toyo CrossRiverWatch can authoritatively report.
Hon Toyo has been representing Calabar/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the Lower Chambers of the National Assembly since June 2011, just as Canaan Fm has been moribund for more than a decade.
She said” I see media and particularly this radio domiciled in my constituency as part of democracy and growth mechanisms in the business of governance due to its role in information dissemination and agenda setting to both the government and the governed.
“When I was going to the House of Representatives, Rev. Grace Ekanem told me about the Fm station and why I should take it as a point of duty for its take off operation.
“The Director General of FRCN, Mallam Salihu Ladan also called and told me the challenges they are facing with respect to the Transmitter and other technical equipments that can aid the take off of the radio station, I approached the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku who incidentally is a long standing friend.
“But when the Minister’s promises were not forthcoming and the pressure continued, I took N25million from my constituency Intervention funds which FRCN accessed direct from the CBN and today I’m the happiest person because the management of FRCN used the funds judiciously and the radio is on test transmission as I speak with you.
On being the first person to speak as a guest on the radio, Hon Nkoyo said “I dedicated this giant stride to my constituents who will largely benefit from this effort.
“Already 15 of them will be given employment by the station; this is a plus alongside the traditional benefit that my constituents and the people of Cross River and beyond will get from the broadcast station.”
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