The station's downfall raises questions about the government's commitment to preserving public assets and supporting local media.
The Niger State-owned television station, NSTV, has alarmingly deteriorated, falling far from its former glory.
The facility, initially lauded for its cutting-edge equipment and infrastructure, now lies in a state of disrepair, highlighting concerns over neglect and mismanagement.
The station's downfall raises questions about the government's commitment to preserving public assets and supporting local media.
Idris Adamu Manorakis, founder of Minna-based Indigenous Language Learning Centre (ILLEC) and a prominent Nupe language advocate, took to Facebook to share shocking photos of the Niger State Television (NSTV) station's deteriorating condition.
The images reveal a stark reality: a damaged ceiling, leaking roof, and overall disrepair, highlighting the urgent need for renovation and maintenance.
Commenting on the state of disrepair at the station, Manorakis described his initial visits to NSTV as impressive, stating, “The first time I was invited to Niger State Television NSTV for a TV Nupe Program by Hadiza Wanigi, I felt wow, this station is looking like a base in Europe.
“The Air Conditions (ACs) were all functional, everything was looking gladdens.”
However, he noted a stark contrast during his recent visit, saying, “My return to NSTV today made me shed tears.
“The place is totally dilapidated. NSTV needs government’s quick interventions as this place is looking very bad. It will put any serious person to tears.”
Manorakis also criticised the management of NSTV, highlighting a general lack of ownership and responsibility.
He observed, “We don't take ownership in anything we do and this is very bad of us.”
He suggested that the station could benefit from better financial management, adding, “If we can keep like N10,000 monthly, this will turn to N1.2 million in a year. It will fix some unfixable gadgets.”
The media practitioner further lamented the tendency to rely solely on government support, stating, “Our negligence always is that our proprietor, which is the government, must be the one to fix everything for us, including the ones we use.”
He warned against the tendency to neglect property due to the belief that it belongs to the government.
“Inasmuch as the government cannot repair your house for you and it will look liveable, I am sorry to say, we also contribute to destroying our God-ordained properties and later we point accusing fingers at the government,” he said.
When contacted for comments on the state of disrepair at the station, its acting manager, Ruth Kwenge, admitted to the facility's challenges but stated that they had been reported to the appropriate authorities for action.
“Thank you very much for your concern. I agree on the problem but it has been reported to the appropriate quarters and will be well taken care of,” she said.
However, Binta Mamman, the state's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, did not answer her calls or reply to a message sent to her mobile line as at the time of filing this report.
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