By Comrade Shedrack Onitsha
Once again, I appeal to our esteemed Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to reconsider plans to resuscitate the 15-year-old abandoned Ubulu-Uku transmitter. Your Excellency, those advising you to refurbish this outdated equipment do not have the best interests of DRTV Warri or your administration at heart. If this transmitter fails after significant resources are committed to its maintenance, the blame will fall squarely on your shoulders.
We’ve seen similar failures with Nigeria’s four refineries, where over $10 billion has been spent on turnaround maintenance with no tangible results. Workers in these refineries continue to draw salaries and receive promotions despite producing nothing of value for the nation. We don’t want DRTV Warri to meet a similar fate, where inefficiency becomes the norm.
What DRTV Warri truly needs is a modern, energy-efficient transmitter—one that can run on a 3kva generator or even a solar power system. In today’s economic climate, the high cost of diesel to power outdated generators is unsustainable, especially given the erratic power supply in Delta State. In many parts of Delta, particularly Effurun, Warri, Ughelli, Sapele, and Agbor, power from BEDC has become a rare luxury.
Your Excellency, as a proud “Warri Guy,” it would be to your credit if DRTV Warri and DBS Asaba were upgraded to national and international standards under your watch. It pains me, as it does many Deltans, that we cannot watch our state-owned television stations on DSTV and GOTV, unlike our counterparts in Lagos and Ogun States. Meanwhile, the Delta State Government reportedly spends N40 million monthly on servicing private Lagos-based television stations that pay no taxes to Delta.
There are individuals in your administration who benefit from outsourcing media coverage to these private stations. Their vested interests drive them to undermine DRTV Warri and DBS Asaba by claiming that no one watches these stations. Hosting DRTV and DBS on GOTV would prove them wrong and significantly boost your administration’s communication efforts across the state. Resuscitating the obsolete Ubulu-Uku transmitter, which has been out of use for over 15 years, is akin to expecting a 96-year-old man to perform with the vigor of a 25-year-old. No amount of “manpower” drugs can reverse age, just as no amount of refurbishment can bring outdated technology on par with modern advancements. The 21st century demands cutting-edge tools, not relics from the past.
Have you wondered why private radio and television stations in Delta are thriving while state-owned stations struggle? It’s not a lack of skilled workforce—it’s the outdated equipment that stifles their creativity and limits their potential. No matter how talented the staff, they can only do so much with obsolete tools. The fact that DRTV Warri is still partially on air is a testament to the ingenuity and sacrifice of the station’s management and staff. Despite numerous obstacles, they are determined to keep the station alive, resisting the efforts of those who want it to fail. However, the plan to refurbish the Ubulu-Uku transmitter is part of a larger agenda to see the station crippled.
The argument that refurbishing the old transmitter will save costs is flawed. Due to its age, the transmitter will require constant maintenance and high-power voltage to operate, leading to increased operational costs. Running the station on diesel generators to support this outdated equipment is simply not sustainable. If those pushing for this refurbishment truly believed in cutting costs, they would suggest using old government vehicles instead of purchasing new ones. Vehicles abandoned during the Uduaghan and Okowa administrations could be repaired instead of buying new ones. But they don’t push for this because their real motivation is quick financial gratification, and they want to ensure the station’s failure for their own benefit.
It would be shocking to see a proud Warri man like yourself allow DRTV Warri, the pride of Delta, to be dismantled under your leadership. You promised that “Ukodo Go Reach Everybody,” and this should include ensuring the survival and growth of DRTV Warri as part of our share of the Ukodo. We are not asking for much—just a modern transmitter and the proper investment in our state-owned media outlets. This would not only improve the station’s performance but also provide a reliable platform for communicating your policies and programs to the people of Delta State. With the right equipment, DRTV Warri and DBS Asaba can rival any private station in the country and be the voice of the people of Delta. Let’s make that happen under your leadership. The future of these stations depends on bold, forward-thinking decisions, not outdated and short-sighted plans.
Let’s move away from the antiquated transmitter and embrace modern technology that will serve us well into the future. We count on you, as a son of Warri, to ensure that DRTV Warri gets the attention and resources it deserves. Ukodo Go Reach Everybody!
– Onitsha, a Journalist, Media & Public Relations Consultant, Writes from Ughelli.
