FEDERAL Government has intensified efforts to modernise Nigeria’s public information infrastructure with the upgrade of the National Press Centre in Abuja, saying the facility will provide journalists with improved working conditions and better support for professional media practice.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance yesterday after inspecting the ongoing renovation of the National Press Centre at Radio House, as well as the newly completed television studio at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) headquarters in Abuja.

He said the projects form part of the Tinubu administration’s broader agenda to strengthen public communication through improved infrastructure across government-owned media organisations.

According to the minister, the upgraded National Press Centre is being redesigned into a modern media hub with world-class facilities and high-speed internet connectivity to enhance news gathering and reporting by journalists covering government activities and national events.

“The National Press Centre must fulfil its mandate as Nigeria’s foremost media hub. It is being redesigned to provide journalists with a conducive environment and modern facilities to carry out their professional responsibilities effectively,” Idris said.

He urged the contractors handling the project to adhere strictly to the completion schedule, adding that he would return for a final inspection before the facility is commissioned.

Earlier at the NTA headquarters, the minister expressed satisfaction with the newly completed television studio, describing it as one of the most advanced broadcast facilities in Nigeria and among the finest on the African continent.

“What we have seen today is the fulfilment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to modernise Nigeria’s public broadcasting facilities. This is one of the best studios in Nigeria and among the finest on the African continent,” he said.

Idris explained that the new studio is part of a wider investment programme covering the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He commended the management and staff of the NTA for supporting the transformation process, noting that the reforms go beyond physical infrastructure to include content improvement, professionalism, innovation and human capacity development.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government is also procuring modern broadcast equipment for NTA stations across the country to improve the quality of public service broadcasting.

He described the recently relaunched Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme as another key component of the ongoing reforms in the broadcasting sector.

“The Digital Switch Over and the investments in modern broadcast infrastructure are opening a new chapter for Nigeria’s information sector. By the time this reform programme is completed, Nigerians will witness a truly transformed public broadcasting system,” he said.

Idris also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the information sector, stressing that government recognises the need to invest in both infrastructure and personnel.

He added that the ongoing upgrades across government-owned media institutions reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting credible information dissemination, strengthening public communication and positioning Nigeria’s information sector to meet international standards.