NEDC donates 130 trolleys, equipment to airports, FRCN to enhance operational effectiveness

The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) has donated 130 trolleys to six airports across the Northeast region and broadcasting equipment to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as part of its mandate to enhance the operational effectiveness of institutions in the region.

Muhammad Alkali, the Managing Director of the NEDC, speaking during the handover event in Maiduguri, said the items are critical to the rebuilding of the North East, which has suffered years of conflict.

He said, “We are here as part of our mandate to support the rebuilding process in the Northeast. From the beginning, we have been collaborating with the media because everyone needs information. This is why we are donating these items to the FRCN.

“What we did was not just a kind of supply approach; we engaged all our partners to know their demand. We engaged the FRCN in discussion and narrowed it down to the specific needs. This is why we introduced these items. This gesture cut across all sectors; we have done the same thing with the police, military, and media,” he added.

Alkali further noted that six states in the Northeast will benefit from the 130 trolleys that will be distributed

“FAAN is also another very important agency. We all travel through the airport, and must have seen the challenges. This is why we decided to start with the low-level needs. As basic as trolleys, they are struggling to have enough. This is why we decided to start this 130 trolley before we go into the next step,” he said.

He said, out of the 130 trolleys, 20 were allocated to Adamawa, 20 to Bauchi, 30 to Borno, 20 to Gombe, 20 to Taraba, and 20 to Yobe states.

Handing over the items to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, the Managing Director of the North West Development Commission,
Abdullahi Maji stated that if judiciously utilised, the items will serve the information needs of people across the state and environs.

He said, “By the authority conferred on me by the MD, Northeast Development Commission, to hand over the following items: 5 KW transmitter, including antenna system and installation. 6-Bay Broadband antenna, two computers for on-air studio, two computers for each production studio.”

“16-channel professional console, Distribution amplifier, FM tuner, four Condenser microphones,” Maji said.

He also added that the items included drone cameras, chairs, cables, printers, lightning kits, routers, consoles, plugs, connectors, laptops, and tables, among others

Responding, Muhammad Bulama, the Director General of the FRCN, said the gesture will increase the station’s broadcasting hours in the region

“For me, the most important assistant here today is the supply of Solar power to our stations. With this, it means that our stations in the Northeast can now broadcast 12 to 15 hours per day. We say thank you to NEDC for listening and granting our request,” he stated.

On her part, the Regional Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari International Airport,
Maiduguri, Fatima Aliyu said the trolleys will ease the movement of passenger goods in airports across the region.

“We thank the Managing Director of the NEDC and his team for the donation of the trollies. They will really go a long way, as it will add comfort, ease the movement of passengers’ luggage to different parts of Nigeria” she said.