Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Assembly has been urged to take necessary steps to strengthen the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as the regulatory body for broadcast stations to restore sanity, decency and patriotism-driven content that promotes peace, development and harmony on the airwaves.
A veteran journalist and Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Saadu Salahu, made this call in a lecture he presented at an event organised by Kwara State chapter of Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) to mark the 2026 World Radio Day.
Salahu’s lecture is titled: “The Role of Radio and its Personnel in Economic Development of the Nation.”
He said radio plays a vital role in driving economic development through information dissemination, promoting local contents, economic empowerment and civic engagement.
Salahu who is the Senior Adviser and Counselor to Kwara State governor said: “The 2026 Radio Day therefore provides a unique opportunity to remind ourselves as professionals in broadcasting to re-dedicate ourselves to patriotism and highest standards in professional broadcasting that engenders love , restores confidence in our institutions and government at all levels.
“And bridge the yawning gap in trust deficit between the government and the people, leaders and the led and support security agencies and other public officers in seamless delivery of their services to the nation.
“Radio , unlike others , can not afford to broadcast any material information without ensuring accuracy , fact checking available news report and fulfil professional standards in broadcasting. “
He, however, noted that despite its potential, Nigerian Radio broadcasting faces challenges such as funding, infrastructure and technology adoption and capacity building.
He added that digital convergence, partnerships, collaborating with government, private sector, and development agencies, innovation by embracing new formats, such as podcasting and interactive programming, are some of the opportunities that abound in radio.
To maximise radio’s impact on economic development, Salahu advocated investment in capacity building:
Promotion of local content, support local production and leverage technology, and foster partnerships through collaboration with stakeholders for sustainable development.
“It is incontestable to note that radio remains a powerful tool for economic development in Nigeria. Let us harness its potential to drive growth, empower citizens, and build a prosperous nation,” Salahu stated.
He commended Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq for creating a friendly environment for all media and professional journalists to discharge their duties without any molestation or harassment in the state.
“Not only has he restored life and dignity to all the state -owned media and my soft spot , Radio Kwara in particular, I am aware that there are good plans to further strengthen the station with necessary innovative technology , facilities and logistics that will enable the station to reach all parts of the state better, loud and clear.
” The governor’s style of leadership emphasising good governance , politics without bitterness and zero tolerance for thuggery has restored and sustained the vision of the founding fathers of Kwara State as a State of Harmony and one of the peaceful and secured states in the North Central in spite of our share of insecurity in parts of the country.
“The governor’s swift midnight condolence visit to Koro , his synergy with the President and subsequent prompt interventions of the President, the governor and the security agencies in deploying Operation Savannah Shield forces in support of our people in Kaiama and other parts of the state in distress are quite reassuring and commendable.
” We all must rise up collectively to play our parts as law-abiding citizens to support the security agencies with actionable intelligence as part of concerted efforts to put an end to the rise in insurgency in parts of the state,” Salahu said.