Kogi state owned media organisations will henceforth give coverage to Ministies, Departments and Agencies in the state at reduced costs, to enable the MDAs project more of government programmes and activities to the people.
The Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Evang. Kingsley Fanwo who gave the directives on Friday said the management of Radio Kogi and The Graphic newspaper should run programmes of MDAs in the state, especially those that generate revenue at minimal costs.
The Commissioner who was on a working visit to the Bureau of Lands and Urban Development assured the Director General of a chargeless interactive forum on Radio as well as coverage in The Graphic newspaper at no cost to create awareness of programmes in the bureau for people to benefit from.
He assured the management of the bureau of the full support of the state government towards a successful land administration; describing land as a “low hanging fruit that the state can pluck from” during an economic stress as this.
According to Fanwo, “Governor Yahaya Bello is committed to efficient land administration and that is why he has given a marching order to the Ministry of Information to ensure that issues bordering on land and the bureau are given a lot of publicity; so that the people can benefit from what is happening here.”
“This is one of the avenues of ensuring quick wins; land is one of the low-hanging fruits that we can pluck from to rescue our state from the economic situation we have found ourselves.”
While promising to yield the state information platforms to the gainful use of the bureau, the commissioner urged the DG to take advantage of the offer and reach out to the people to maximize the potentials of the agency.
The Commissioner stressed that Radio Kogi and The Graphic newspaper have wide coverages, with added advantage of e-graphic, pointing out that partnership with the two organisations and the state printing press would surely bring economic prosperity to the state.
He commended the DG for his initiatives and reforms at the bureau; while also lauding the management for their support towards the success of the agency.
Responding, the DG of Lands and Urban Development, Hon. Nazir Ochi expressed joy that the visit had laid to rest the lack of publicity, which had been a challenge to the bureau.
He said his office had put in place a lot of programmes that needed sensitisation and promised to utilise the opportunity to greater profitability of the agency.
On the Commissioner’s entourage were the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Peter Stephen, the DG Radio, Alhaji Ojo Oyila, the MD Graphic, Pst Dayo Thomas and other management staff at the state Information sector.
Evang. Fanwo had earlier inspected the facilities at the Radio Kogi, the State Publishing Corporation and the State Printing Press.
