BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, ABUJA
The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has acquired an operating licence from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to operate a commercial radio station in the council.
Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu announced this while officially receiving the operational licence,
Municipal FM 95.3, from the managing director of AMAC Broadcasting Service, Yakubu Pam, in company of the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to AMAC Chairman, Hon. Kingsley Madaki.
Maikalangu explained that the idea of transforming from community radio into a commercial radio station, with the capacity to cover the entire FCT and neighbouring states, was to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the council.
He said the station would also connect the entire FCT residents and beyond on the daily activities of AMAC, and feature programmes that have direct impacts to both indigenous people of FCT and Nigerians.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki, the AMAC chairman commended the MD, SSA Media and Public Affairs, and other facilitators, noting that the licence is unprecedented and historic as it is the first time such would be happening in AMAC.
He said: “As a responsible and highly responsive government, we have a community radio station that was passed down from the previous administrations and it was purely a community radio. That frequency was not too far and we decided to move beyond that by acquiring a commercial radio station licence. It now a full blown radio station with the capacity to generate revenue through commercial advertising and paid programs.
“I am someone who puts AMAC people first and committed to meeting people’s expectations and exceeding such as this.
“Undoubtedly, AMAC is indeed blessed with our administration onboard. AMAC residents should rest assured that this administration is committed to ensuring that the Council remains a moving and progressive Area Council. I want call on the people of the AMAC, my entire cabinet members and aides to put AMAC first in all their dealings.”