180821012 [AFUYE MIRACLE TIMILEHIN]

TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Introduction

2. Main content;
2.1. Summary of Procedures
2.2. Summary of the Visit
2.3. How to Set up a Radio Station

3. Conclusion and Recommendation

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1. INTRODUCTION

On the 25th of November, I AFUYE MIRACLE TIMILEHIN, a 300 level student of the department of
Business Administration, with the matric number 180821012 and a group of other colleagues went on
an industrial visit to LAGOS TRAFFIC RADIO (96.1 FM). The purpose of our visit was to find out the steps
and processes involved in starting up a radio station.

Lagos Traffic Radio is a radio station broadcasting on 96.1 FM in Lagos, Nigeria. The station broadcasts
traffic information for the Lagos metropolitan area. Lagos Traffic Radio began broadcasting on May 29,
2012 after being commissioned by Governor Babatunde Fashola. It was conceived as a homegrown
solution to reduce the metropolitan area's heavy road congestion and provide commuters with regular
traffic updates. Lagos Traffic Radio is the first highway advisory radio station of its kind in the country; a
second, National Traffic Radio on 107.1 FM for Abuja, was started by the Federal Road Safety Corps in
November 2019.

Outside View of Lagos Traffic Radio

2. MAIN CONTENT

2.1. Summary of Procedures

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After conceptualizing Lagos Traffic Radio as our object of visit, we proceeded to tender it to our team
supervisor in the person of DR. ALAKA, who consented. We then proceeded to submit an attested letter
signed by Professor O.T. Olajide (H.O.D, Business Administration) to the radio station which is located at
LTV complex, Lateef Jakande, Agidingbi, Ikeja. The letter was submitted on the 4th of November 2021
and was stamped by the manager, MR. TAYO AKANLE on the same day. We were later allotted a date
and a time for the visit two weeks later.

2.2. Summary of the Visit

On arrival to the radio station we were allowed entry to the radio station and we were divided into two
major groups due to the COVID – 19 precautions. I was with the second group and we were showed the
studio and the newsroom. First we were taken to the studio where we met the chief engineer in the
person of MR. IDOWU ADEYEMI. He showed us the main studio and did a run through of the items and
equipment found in the studio and we were allowed to ask some questions. Through to the exposition
of the engineer, we were made to know that Lagos Traffic Radio has a total of three studios which are
the main studio, backup studio and the recording studio. All studios can be used for broadcast.
According to him, it is important and beneficial for a radio station to have more than one studio in order
to provide for cases of emergency.

Engineer Idowu Adeyemi educating us in the studio

Items found in the studio include the mixer, microphones, CD player, minidisk, monitor, master
processing unit, acoustic foams and computers. We were also told that an indispensible item that every
radio station should have is a transmitter. The transmitter helps to transmit signals so that everyone can

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listen to radio content from anywhere in the world. The transmitter cannot be placed in the studio
because the radio frequency emitted by the transmitter can cause cancer. Thus it is connected to the
studio through a transmission line.

After touring the studio, we were taken to the newsroom. The basic function of the news room is to
compile stories that will be used during the news read and bulletins. In the newsroom, we met the staff
on duties in the person of MR. ADEWALE OLOWOPORO and MR.KAYODE MAFOLASERE. Through their
exposition we were made to understand that the newsroom is an indispensible part of any standard
radio station as they work behind the scene to gather news and stories to be read in the studio on air by
on air personalities. We also got to understand that the motive or object of the radio station is the major
determining factor of the structure of the news room. For instance Lagos Traffic radio was created to
broadcast traffic information thus that has a big impact on the structure of the news room. Workers in
the news room work in shift because they have to create bulletins at various time bot. the time bot are
during 10am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 7pm and 9pm. The major source of the information
includes trusted online sources like punch, the nation, channels, BBC and CNN. Thus information gotten
from these sources is fairly reliable.

The Newsroom

According to our anchor, there were other parts of the radio station that we could not visit due to
certain reasons. This sections include the marketing department, the engineering department etc.

2.3. How to Start a Radio Station

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According to MR. ADEWALE OLOWOPORO, Owning a well standard radio station is a great source of
income as they get income from various sources which include on-air advertising, online advertising,
sponsored content, charging callers, covering sponsored events, selling newscasts.

During our interactive session with the engineer and staffs on duty in the news room, we got to know
that the major market for the radio industry is in Lagos but due to some reasons, transmitters cannot be
issued in Lagos for now. Thus if you want to set up a new radio station now, the only option is to get a
transmitter from another state and broadcast in Lagos. ENGINEER IDOWU ADEYEMI also mentioned that
a radio station can evolve from an online radio or a podcast. He advised that for those with the intention
to start a radio station, it is advisable to state with a podcast or an online radio in order to gather
audience.

Setting up a standard radio station in Nigeria is no easy task as it requires a huge sum of money.
However the following are some guidelines that you should follow in order to set up a radio station.

Step 1: Carryout a market survey

Before venturing into the process, it is advisable that you do your research well. It will be difficult to
state categorically how much all of those radio station equipment cost, as price difference range with
quality, company make and sizes.

Step 2: Acquire your structure & equipment

Depending on your budget and the size of your intended radio broadcasting station, you might need
more than just one each of the equipment previously listed. Furthermore, you’ll need several control
rooms, studios, offices, etc. where transmission of several programs, talk shows, and other intended
activities will take place.

Step 3: Get professionals to install your broadcast equipment

You’ll need to hire helping hands of professional radio station engineers to carry out all necessary
installations. You could make inquiries from already established radio stations in your neighborhood on
where to find professionals fit for the job.

Step 4: Employ all necessary personnel & Staff

Meanwhile, you’ll need to several employees depending on how large you intend to start. Important
staffers to employ are, but are not limited to: presenters, DJs, engineers, marketers, journalists, security
officers, production managers, etc.

Step 5: Get a CAC & NBC license

First and foremost, you’ll need to register your radio station as company (corporate entity) with CAC
(Corporate Affairs Commissions); thereafter, you’ll forward an application to NBC (Nigerian Broadcasting
Corporation). All registrations come at an extra-cost.

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In summary, you can obtain registration form at CAC for ₦50, 000; while registration with NBC may cost
you to the tone of ₦20, 000, 000 for category A locations, and ₦15, 000, 000 for category B locations.
Renewals are set at ₦5,000,000 and ₦4,000,000 for category A and B respectively. Port Harcourt, Lagos
& Abuja are classified as Category A; while other states and locations in Nigeria are classified as Category
B. All licenses are valid for 5 years only and you must make renewals on or before 6 months to the
expiration of your previous license.

A broadcast license from NBC is extremely important. Without it NBC reserves the right to shut down
your radio station at any time.

Step 6: Begin transmission

Once you have your license, equipment, staffers and every other thing in place, then you can begin to
publish live on air as soon as possible.

Step 7: Publicize and reach out

Although people can tune their radio sets and discover your newly launched station, you might want to
put in some extra funds into advertisement and reach outs to get the head start your business needs.

3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Radio stations are extremely good sources of income. However the cost of owning one is also extremely
high. Putting all costs into consideration, you may be required to fork out several millions, maybe ₦30
000 000 to ₦ 50, 000, 000 to start an FM radio station in Nigeria; the cost could be a lot higher
depending on how large you intend to start. Thus for starters, it is recommended to start small with
online radio and podcasts. However, if you can cater for the cost, it is a delightful source of income.