The panel of inquiry into the July 2, 2019 fire incident at the Bayelsa State Government owned Radio Station, Glory FM on Tuesday submitted its report to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

Chairman of the panel, Mr. Marshall Edolo while submitting the report attributed the fire incident to negligence of some technical staff of the corporation in the maintenance of vital equipments.

He said the panel discovered that some electrical lines were overloaded and routine maintenance was ignored by the management of the radio station which led to the unfortunate incident.

Mr. Edolo said the panel discovered that there was no act of sabotage as earlier being speculated, insisting that it was purely a case of negligence and the use of quacks to carry out maintenance.

He said "Negligence was the cause of the fire outbreak. Certain routine maintenance that should have been done was not done. Not only that, the use of non professionals in the maintenace of equipments also worsened the situation.

"For whatever reason the management of the station always hire the services of incompetent hands to carry out checks on its equipments. This is highly unprofessional.

"There was no sabotage, no physical hard evidence to provide that the outbreak occurred intentionally. So the story about sabotage was unfounded".

Edolo who is also the Director of Planning Research and Statistic in the Ministry of Information and Orientation charged the state government to study and take action on the report to avoid a repeat in the future.

Receiving the report, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation lauded the efforts of the committee, especially for their courage to deliver their findings despite all odds.

He assured of the government's commitment to act on the recommendations of the committee in order to prevent such ugly occurrences in future.

"We are happy that no life was lost and that the damage was controlled immediately with the swift response of the state fire service and other patriotic Bayelsans. If not for those efforts, nothing would have been left of the radio station. Although the radio station is back on air, there is still much work to be done to bring back the station to its pride of place.

"You have ruled out any form of sabotage but that it was negligence. For me negligence is as bad as sabotage. If the right thing was done, perhaps we would not be talking of a fire incident today. But Bayelsans should know that will do everything possible to forestall any future occurrence.

"We would study this report and go through it line by line and also look at the recommendations made by the panel and we would recommend same to the Governor to take necessary and prompt action to ensure that the radio station functions in maximum capacity and renders full service to Bayelsans."

Iworiso-Markson also announced plans by the government to bring the state owned media outfits under one roof to enable them become more efficient in the discharge of their duties.

"His Excellency the Governor has made efforts to ensure that a proper structure for the radio station is built. As we speak, we are looking at the drawings and giving more specifics to the details. Presently, there is a law that has fused both the radio and television stations as one entity known as the Bayelsa Media Corporation.

"Now with what has happened, it will enable us redesign the building to accommodate the television arm for the radio and TV to be in one place and under one management.

"The government was committed to instituting a very robust media organization that will serve the people in the best way possible. We are working hard to see that the project is completed before the end of this administration".

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