Bayelsa: Media Houses call on Gov Douye Diri for support

The staff of the media houses of Bayelsa are calling on the governor of the state, Douye Diri, to assist them. The call for aid comes from the members of the staff of the media houses owned by the government. Some sources have suggested that the Ministry of Information will move into the Ernest Ikoli Media Centre. The Prosperity government of Bayelsa constructed the building for the media houses. 

According to Governor Diri, the building will house the following media organizations,

• The Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, known as Radio Bayelsa 
• Niger Delta Television 
• State Newspaper Corporation, known as New Waves.

The governor of Bayelsa announced the inauguration of the Ernest Ikoli Media Centre in February 2022. Accordingly, the media houses have asked the governor why the government cannot accommodate them in the newly built tower. Some of these media houses continue to operate from their old offices. The media houses have stated they face a lack of accommodation in the building. 

Meanwhile, the media houses claim that vacant office rooms are well under lock and key for the Ministry’s use. The media houses further argue that the government did not build the media centre for their use. Meanwhile, the staff of the broadcast outfits also expressed fears that they may attract sanctions from their supervising agencies. 

The claim comes in light of the upcoming off-season elections in November 2023. The National Broadcasting Commission and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria may sanction the media houses over possible ward-off of opposition candidates. 

During the off-season election in November, the Broadcast House must give all parties a level playing ground. Meanwhile, the media houses of the state have called on Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, to wade into this brewing face-off. The media houses have also asked him to embark on a surprise tour of the facility from the beginning.