ENCYCLOPEDIA Britannica refers to electricity as a fundamental form of energy resulting from the existence and movement of charged particles, typically electrons through a conductor.
This form of energy is the backbone of corporate institutions including broadcast Stations accounting for the generation, transmission and reception of signals.
In the absence of a reliable power source, Radio Station’s mandate is defeated. Epileptic supply of electricity or erratic distribution leads to disruption of information dissemination, entertainment and commercial services.
As Radio Benue appeals for solar energy as a remedy, there is the need for partners to consider the interest of the people by activating their social corporate responsibility component to guide actions towards government agencies like Radio Benue Makurdi.
Radio Stations depend on electricity to facilitate signal generation and transmission to a wider audience, studio operations require electricity for microphones, mixing consoles, computers and digital editing tools to produce audio content.
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Listener reception requires a consistent electrical grid connection to function and in emergencies Radio is often the only communication channel left, making reliable electrical power to transmitters critical for broadcasting.
The inadequate supply of electricity to a Radio Station especially a State-owned Station like Radio Benue, Makurdi impedes transmission leading to missed programmes, cancelled and rescheduled advertising slots, forced shut down and reduced inconsistent broadcasting hours.
Frequent power interruptions and voltage fluctuations damage sensitive electronic studio and transmission equipment.
Furthermore, poor supply of electricity to Radio Benue increases operational costs resorting to alternatives like diesel generators. Also lack of stable power leads to poorly produced low quality and inconsistent programming. The public is unable to access educational, entertainment and informational programmes challenging the Station’s impact, heightens public frustration and offers peddlers of rumours to thrive.
The immediate past administration did not help the electricity situation at Radio Benue. Generating plants to sustain transmission during power outage from the public source were auctioned at ridiculous prices with no alternative sources of energy provided for Radio Benue.
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This unpalatable and reckless attitude of the past administration left Radio Benue at the whims and caprices of companies responsible for public power supply. With this sole dependency and rising competition from industry players, Radio Benue found itself at a disadvantaged position.
The situation of power at Radio Benue to sustain uninterrupted transmission is pathetic and worrisome.
As the Corporation saddled with the mandate to inform, educate and entertain Benue people even beyond confined boundaries. Therefore, it behoves the administration of Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia to restrategize its interest concerning functionality of Radio Benue. There is the urgent need for government to provide a dedicated power source at Radio Benue to avert the unfortunate situation of shutting down services.
The administration should be intentional to build a sustainable solar farm within for Radio Benue to checkmate arbitrary power outage from the public source.
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Sole dependency on public power supply by Radio Benue is unacceptable as the Alia administration is meeting the social contract it entered with the people.
As Radio Benue appeals for solar energy as a remedy, there is the need for partners to consider the interest of the people by activating their social corporate responsibility component to guide actions towards government agencies like Radio Benue Makurdi.
In addition, the installation of high capacity UPS systems to manage the temporary gap between grid failure and generator start-up is an idea that should be pursued with vigor.
Tiav, a broadcast journalist, writes from Makurdi, Benue State.
