By Correspondent

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor, Simon Ober Mawut on Saturday applauded the management of a local radio station for their swift move to get back the station on air.

The Governor spoke while on a tour of Akol Yam Radio Station, where he assessed the damage caused by a thunderstorm that brought down the station’s antenna on Sunday, May 25, 2025.

During the visit, Governor Ober appreciated the station’s team for their dedication and swift efforts in restoring operations.

According to a statement from the Governor’s press unit, Ober applauded the successful installation of a temporary broadcast tower, which enabled the station to resume broadcasting just one month after the original 72-meter mast was destroyed by heavy winds.

“Governor Ober reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the station and pledged to provide the necessary resources to ensure the continued smooth operation of the community radio,” the statement added.

Last month (May), two community radio stations in Northern Bahr el Ghazal were knocked off air after storms toppled their broadcast towers, leaving residents in an information blackout.

The first collapse occurred on a Friday in Malualkon, Aweil East County, where Nhomlaau FM 88.0’s tower—already undergoing repairs by Action for Children Development Organization (ACDF)—was felled by fierce winds and heavy rainfall.

Just two days later, Akol Yam FM 91.0, the only functioning community radio station in Aweil town, also came crashing down as another storm swept through the region. Akol Yam FM had replaced the former Nhomlaau FM after it was relocated by Internews.

Both stations were initially constructed by Internews with funding from USAID.

Residents who spoke to The City Review at the time voiced their frustration over the silence.

“It’s outrageous that the station is off. The tower is completely down,” said Adut Akec, a regular listener of Akol Yam FM. “We don’t know where to get news, music, or development programs. We can’t hear from our leaders anymore.”

Another resident, Dut Aken Bol, questioned the structural integrity of the towers.

“Maybe the foundations were poorly done—who knows?” he said. “It’s weird that the same thing happened to Nhomlaau FM just as it was about to be revived.”