The Rivers State Government shut down the operations of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM in Port Harcourt.
DAAR Communications PLC, in a brief statement issued at the weekend by AIT Editor, Terverr Tyav, said the management was taken by surprise by the shutdown, as the Government had not given it any notice of the shutdown.
According to DAAR, the contractors disconnected the wave-guard from the mast’s antenna while riggers were dismantling the mast. It added that bulldozers were also deployed to demolish the Transmitter Complex at the DAAR Communications PLC Broadcast Centre in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The land on which the AIT/RayPower transmission station is located has been a subject of dispute between the state government and Daar Communications, Plc.
Recall that in March, the State government, under the directive of former governor Nyesom Wike, now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), issued a quit notice to Daar Communications, ordering it to vacate the land.
The government quit notice reads: “Following the imminent commencement of GRA Phase 5 project, the structures are impacting on the Right of Way have been earmarked for demolition, including your own. Consequently, you are requested by this notice to remove structures within 48 hours to allow for speedy progress of work”.
