A journalist and former staff member of the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Ngozi Chima, has called on the Delta State Government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently revive and reposition the government-owned broadcasting stations in Asaba and Warri.
Chima expressed concern over what he described as the declining state of the two broadcasting stations, stressing that Delta State cannot afford to lose its own voice in the media landscape.
In a passionate appeal titled “DBS Must Rise Again: Delta Cannot Afford to Lose Its Own Voice,” he emphasised the importance of mass communication in informing, educating and entertaining the public, preserving cultural heritage, and providing a platform for communication between the government and the people.
He recalled that the establishment of Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1959 demonstrated the importance attached to broadcasting as an instrument of public enlightenment and development.
He also noted that the Delta Broadcasting Service was established in 1991 by the administration of the late Chief Felix Ibru following the creation of Delta State, with the vision of providing the state with its own broadcasting platform.
However, Chima lamented that the DBS stations in Asaba and Warri have suffered years of neglect, describing their present condition as a source of concern for the state’s media development.
According to him, the apparent decline of the stations has left many Deltans increasingly dependent on social media platforms for information, where unverified reports and rumours can easily circulate.
He warned that a society without a strong and functional indigenous media institution risks allowing others to shape its narratives, adding that Delta State needs vibrant broadcasting stations capable of projecting its identity, culture, achievements and developmental aspirations.
Chima therefore urged Governor Oborevwori’s administration to prioritise the rehabilitation of DBS Asaba and Warri through adequate funding, modern broadcasting equipment, improved infrastructure and the employment of qualified personnel.
He further stressed the need to introduce appropriate and affordable modern technology to enable the stations to compete effectively in the evolving media environment.
The former DBS staff member maintained that the revival of the stations should go beyond mere physical renovation, insisting that they must be repositioned to fulfil their responsibilities as public service broadcasters and contributors to the media’s role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
He appealed to the state government to take deliberate steps to restore the stations to their original purpose of serving the people of Delta State through credible information, public enlightenment and responsible journalism.
Chima concluded that reviving DBS Asaba and Warri is not merely about restoring two government-owned media organisations but about reclaiming Delta State’s voice, strengthening public communication and preserving the state’s place in the nation’s broadcasting industry.
