Rivers Govt Shut Down AIT and Raypower

The Rivers State Government, led by Governor Similayi Fubara, has suspended operations of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

On Sunday, the media group announced this in a statement on its website. The proprietors of AIT and Raypower, DAAR Communications, alleged their activities were shut down by telecommunications engineers hired by the State Government and escorted by armed security officers.

The accused contractors were observed detaching the wave guard from the antenna on the mast while riggers were seen dismantling the mast in a live broadcast on the TV station.

The statement reads, “Meanwhile, bulldozers were also deployed by the Rivers State Government to demolish the Transmitter Complex at the DAAR Communications PLC Broadcast Centre in Port Harcourt.

“Management of the Company has been taken by surprise following the sudden turn of events as efforts were in top gear to resolve issues with the State Government amicably, but the no-notice incident is a heavy source of concern.

“Some officials of the telecommunications contractor told AIT that they were working on a directive from above to start demolition on Sunday despite the heavy rains as against a later date.”

Remember that the site on which the AIT/RayPower Radio station established its transmission facility was a source of contention between the state government and Daar Communications, Plc in March.