NEW EQUIPMENT FOR AKBC TOPS AK GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITY

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Social Re-orientation, Mr. Aniekan Umanah has assured that the construction of a befitting complex for the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and acquisition of modern broadcast equipment is a priority of the Governor Akpabio-led administration in the information sector this year.
He said the corporation needs another outside broadcasting (OB) van for the Radio station which will ease the process of information dissemination to every part of the state.
Mr. Umanah said this while defending the ministry’s budget before the House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation and Finance on Thursday.
He maintained that the radio station in Abak is to be rehabilitated and upgraded to the status of a community radio station that will handle all community or indigenous programme contents for the State in order to decongest the FM Station.
According to him, when this s done, the current FM station will assume a status of a full fledge entertainment and news station.
The ministry proposed a budget of over 3 billion naira which incorporates the acquisition of printing equipment for the government Printing Press, which will be use in printing government security documents; rehabilitation and acquisition of equipment for Akwa Ibom State Newspaper Corporation (AKNC) and maintaining a state archive to gazette the achievements of the government.
The information boss assured that the ministry will work vigorously to sustain the tempo of information dissemination experience in the state. He said he envisages Akwa Ibom State which hit the national news daily, as the state is no more a local state.
Mr. Umanah states that the ministry is proactive, battle ready as the task in the coming year is enormous, coupled with the fact that the Governor is very active with a lot of projects and programmes lining up for completion and commissioning.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Sam Ikon, commended the Commissioner for Information and Social Re-orientation for his efforts in turning the industry in the state around and for giving Akwa Ibom State the much needed publicity.
Hon. Ikon pointed out that building a befitting complex for AKBC is long overdue and urged the Information Commissioner to expedite action to ensure prompt completion of the complex.