Unity State’s first female information minister urges NGOs to use Bentiu radio as ‘lifeline’

BENTIU — Unity State’s first female Minister of Information has urged international aid agencies to utilize the state-run broadcaster as a primary tool for saving lives, seeking to maximize the reach of a station that was destroyed during the civil war and remains a difficult workplace for journalists.

Nyakenya Johannes Keah, who was appointed in November 2025 and hails from Mayendit County in the state’s southern region, issued the directive on Tuesday during a visit to Bentiu State Hospital.

Addressing representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners, Nyakenya described Bentiu 99 FM as a critical bridge to remote communities.

“Bentiu 99 FM is not just a radio station; it is a lifeline. It reaches the grassroots—Payams and Bomas—where information can mean the difference between life and death,” she said.

The minister’s appeal comes as the station works to strengthen its operations. Established in 2008, the facility was a strategic asset in the oil-rich state until it was looted and destroyed during the fighting that erupted in December 2013. It was rebuilt after government forces retook the town from the opposition in mid-2014.

While the station is now fully operational with government funding, it operates in a restrictive environment.

Although it serves as the state’s official mouthpiece, local journalists—including those on the government payroll—frequently face harassment, censorship, and arbitrary detention by security services if their reporting is deemed critical of the administration.

Despite these challenges, Nyakenya insisted that the radio remains the only effective way to counter misinformation and drive health campaigns in a state grappling with low literacy rates and recurring disease outbreaks.

She urged partners to use the airwaves to promote vaccination uptake and combat the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera, and hepatitis.

The remarks were made during an assessment of Bentiu State Hospital led by Health Minister Hon. Jal Puok Nhial, marking his first official engagement at the facility since taking office.

The delegation, which included ministers for Local Government and Agriculture as well as state MPs, assessed gaps in service delivery, with discussions focusing on staff incentives, the medical supply chain, and the restoration of health infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

Minister Nyakenya said effective communication was as vital as medical supplies, noting that informed communities are more likely to seek early treatment.

“When people are well informed, they are more likely to seek care early… and adopt healthy behaviours,” she said.

The Ministry expressed gratitude to humanitarian partners, including Cordaid, World Relief, and MSF, for their continued support in a state where government services remain severely stretched.