Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda on Thursday commissioned a solar renewable energy facility at Aminu Abdullahi House, headquarters of the Katsina State Radio Service (KTRS), aimed at improving broadcast capacity and reducing energy costs.
The ceremony was attended by the General Manager of the station, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Power and Energy, the Commissioner for Information, senior government officials and staff of the radio service.
Radda said the installation would provide the station with an independent and reliable power supply, reducing reliance on diesel and electricity from the national grid.
“This project will provide the station with an independent power supply, enabling it to operate for up to 24 hours, if necessary,” the governor said.
He added that the intervention is expected to enhance information dissemination and strengthen media operations in the state.
Earlier, the General Manager of KTRS, Lawal Attahiru Bakori, said the station previously transmitted for about five to six hours daily due to power limitations.
“With this new development, we will now be able to transmit for up to 18 hours continuously,” Bakori said, describing the commissioning as a significant milestone for the station.
He noted that the solar installation forms part of a broader upgrade project at the station, with additional components nearing completion.
The Special Adviser on Power and Energy, Hafiz Ahmed, said the facility is part of the administration’s wider solar energy interventions across key sectors in the state.
He said the system has a capacity of 100 kilowatt-peak, supported by a 120 kilowatt-hour battery energy storage system designed to provide reliable and uninterrupted power supply.
Ahmed said the project would significantly enhance the station’s operational performance.
The Commissioner for Information, Bala Salisu Zango, also commended the governor for approving the project, stating that the improved power supply would enable the station to remain on air for about 18 hours daily.
Other officials present at the event included the General Manager of Katsina State Television (KTTV), Abba Zayyan, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Tukur Hassan Dan Ali.
