The Adamawa State Executive Council Wednesday approved the sum of seventy million naira as part payment to Pinnacle Communications Limited for digitalization of state own broadcast stations.
The Commissioner of Information and Strategy Doctor Umar Garba Pella disclosed this shortly after the council meeting presided over by Governor Umaru Fintiri in the Council Chamber, Government House, Yola.
Doctor Garba particularly explained that the contract for the digitization of Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation, ABC Yola and Adamawa Television Corporation ATV Yola was initially awarded in twenty eleven by government.
The Commissioner pointed out that the contractor has done with the supply and installations in ABC Yola while that of ATV, Yola was not fully completed due issues related to payment of the outstanding balance.
He added that the state government had an outstanding payment of one hundred and fifty seven million, six hundred and sixty thousand naira and already government has approved measures to offset the balance for the full digitalization of the broadcast media.
Doctor Garba said the present administration has made commitment to ensure that ATV Yola is fully digitalized that it will pay the contractor Pinnacle Communications Limited outstanding balance to complete the project.
He further said that the approval of the seventy million naira which is the first tranche followed an agreement reached between government and the company to pay the outstanding balance of one hundred and fifty seven million, six hundred and sixty thousand naira in tranches.
He disclosed that contractors were already on ground for some weeks which ensured bringing back ATV Yola on terrestrial broadcast and the contract will be completed in the next two months which will also cover ATV Booster’s station in Mubi.