By Austin Ogwuda
Broadcast equipment worth billions of naira were alleged to have been destroyed following fire outbreak at the Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Asaba, Nigeria, Townhall investigation has revealed.
However there is a new twist as the incident is concealed even when government officials visited the scene, it was not reported in the media.
Although credible source confided in our Reporter that it was a minor incident but another informed source dismissed the claim that it was just a minor fire and gave a breakdown of items said to have been damaged.
According to the source who pleaded for anonymity, “the equipment destroyed by the midnight inferno which occurred at the weekend include two Television Transmitters, Television Coaxial cables which linked the Transmitters to the Studio and Master Control Room (MCR) five industrial air conditioners and other critical components of the transmitters including Excitters and Amplifiers”.
The source further added that “the inferno started from the transmitters hall shortly after power was restored to the station from the State Owned Independent Power project (IPP) which supplies power to critical government establishments located in the Delta state capital”. Ironically, the Secretary to the Delta state Government, Dr Kingsley Emu led a delegation to the scene to ascertain the extent of damage yet the press was shut out.
When The Townhall contacted the General Manager DBS, Mrs. Christiana Emetulu on phone today (Thursday), she merely referred me to the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr lucky Omokri saying “anything concerning DBS, please speak with the PS Information”.
Efforts to get confirmation from Omokri were unsuccessful as at time of going to the press