FG acquires radio broadcast license to reach, educate herdsmen

BY: Oliseama Okwuchukwu

The Federal government has acquired an Amplitude Modulation (AM) radio broadcast licence that w​​ould be used to reach out to herdsmen in different locations in Nigeria, as part of effort to end farmers-herders crisis across some states in Nigeria.

Government said it realised that radio is the choice means of news for the herdsmen, hence the need to reach out to them through that means, with the message of peace, unity, tolerance and education.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who confirmed the acquisition of the licence in Abuja, on Tuesday, said the radio service will operate on frequency of 720KHz, and will be strictly on Fulani language.

He disclosed that plans are underway to secure funds for procurement and installation of requisite transmission equipment for the successful take-off of the radio station.

He said the radio services will, unarguably, serve as vehicle for social mobilisation and education, in addition to interactive radio instruction (IRI) methodology that would be adopted to reach the very hard-to-reach segment of our target population.

“Additionally, it will enhance our capacity to address crisis between herders and farmers with attendant consequences to loss of lives, destruction of productive assets, nomadic schools, facilities teaching and learning resources,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), Prof. Bashir Usman, explained that some veteran Hausa broadcasters have been contacted to develop programmes that would add impetus to the commission’s effort towards mass education of the target group.

He was optimistic that it would help entrench peace building, conflict management and resolution, with a view to promoting harmonious and peaceful co-existence between farmers and herders in the Nigeria.