Inside Senator Sadiq's Lafiagi FM Radio Station Project. A Station That Never Went on Air.

By Abdullahi yakub ✔

Inside Senator Sadiq's Lafiagi FM Radio Station Project. A Station That Never Went on Air

A proposed FM radio station in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, remains off the air years after it was presented as one of the constituency projects facilitated by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, popularly known as 3SU, raising questions about its current status and when it will begin serving the public.

An investigation by NupekoTV found that while the station's building appears substantially completed externally, there is no publicly available evidence that it has been commissioned or has commenced broadcasting.

A Project Publicly Listed but Quiet Thereafter

The earliest publicly available reference to the project appears in a 2024 Tribune Online publication highlighting projects associated with Senator Sadiq Umar's interventions across Kwara North. Among the projects listed for Edu Local Government Area was the "Construction of FM Radio Station, Lafiagi."

Beyond that mention, however, the public record becomes remarkably thin.

There is also no publicly available information stating when construction began, the contract value, the contractor, the implementing agency or whether the station has been commissioned or commenced regular broadcasting.

The project remains off the air at a time when Senator Sadiq is also deeply involved in political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship race. He formally declared his governorship ambition in March 2026, and his aspiration has since featured prominently in political engagements across Kwara. While those political activities are within his rights, they raise a broader question for constituents: who is keeping track of projects already promised or facilitated, and who is answering for those that remain incomplete or unused?

What We Found

A recent visit and photographs and videos obtained by NupekoTV show that the building has reached an advanced stage of physical construction.

The structure has been roofed and fitted with windows and doors, while the exterior appears largely finished. From the outside, it gives the impression that much of the civil work has been completed.

However, there is no visible indication that the facility is functioning as a radio station.

There were no signs identifying an operational station, no evidence of broadcast activities and no publicly available programme schedule or official communication announcing that the station is on air.

Likewise, searches of publicly available information did not reveal evidence of staff recruitment, station branding, social media platforms or online streaming services typically associated with an operational radio station.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

While the existence of the building is not in doubt, several important questions remain unanswered.

When exactly did construction begin?

How much public money was allocated to the project?

Which contractor handled the construction?

Which government agency supervised its execution?

Has the National Broadcasting Commission issued an operational licence and frequency for the station?

If all construction has been completed, what is delaying its commissioning and commencement of broadcasting?

These are legitimate questions because the answers relate directly to public accountability and the delivery of constituency projects funded with public resources.

Why It Matters

For many residents of Edu Local Government, a functioning community radio station would be more than another public building.

It could serve as an important platform for local news, educational programmes, agricultural extension services, public health campaigns, emergency information and the promotion of Nupe language and culture.

During periods of insecurity or flooding, a local radio station could also provide timely information capable of reaching communities that may have limited access to television or internet services.

Every year the project remains inactive represents a missed opportunity for the people it was intended to serve.

The Need for Transparency

At the time of publication, NupekoTV found no publicly available information confirming that the Lafiagi FM Radio Station has been commissioned or is currently broadcasting.

The office of Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar and any relevant implementing agency should provide a comprehensive update on the project, including when construction commenced, how much was budgeted and spent, the project's current stage of completion and when the station is expected to begin operations.

Public infrastructure achieves its purpose not when buildings are erected, but when they are put into service for the people they were meant to benefit.