NIGERIA INFO 92.3FM RADIO AWARENESS AGAINST FIRE OUTBREAK AMONGST PORT HARCOURT RESIDENTS’

Abstract

This study examined Nigeria Info 92.3FM Radio Awareness against Fire Outbreak amongst Port Harcourt Residents. The objectives of the study were to ascertain if Port Harcourt residents are exposed to Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio awareness against fire outbreak, find out the perception of Port Harcourt residents on Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio awareness against fire outbreak, determine if Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio awareness against fire outbreak has influenced the attitude of Port Harcourt residents and determine if there are factors that militate against Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio awareness against fire outbreak amongst Port Harcourt residents.  Agenda-Setting Theory was adopted in the study.  A total population of 1,076,204 serve as Port Harcourt residents.  A sample size of 400 was determined using Taro Yamene’s (1967) formula as a guide.  The multistage sampling technique was used for the study.  Questionnaire was the instrument used for gathering data for the study.  Data were computed in tables and percentages while questions were analyzed using the four point likert scale weighted in grand mean.  The finding revealed that that Port Harcourt residents are exposed to Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio awareness against fire outbreak several times a day. The findings showed that Port Harcourt residents’ perception of Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio awareness against fire outbreaks was poor. Also, the finding affirmed that radio awareness against fire outbreak on Nigeria Info 92.3FM has influenced the attitude of Port Harcourt residents a little to prevent fire outbreaks in the future. The finding further revealed that there are factors that militate against Nigeria Info 92.3FM against fire outbreaks amongst Port Harcourt residents. The study concluded that radio remains the most effective medium for reaching large population of people on vital issues such as fire outbreak, accident, health challenges, etc. The study recommended that radio stations should expose Port Harcourt residents and by extension other communities in Rivers State more on the dangers of fire outbreak to create wider awareness and knowledge about the preventive measures. Finally, the study recommends that government at federal, state and local levels should fund, provide support to radio stations while radio stations should procure good communication facilities, gas plant for constant power supply, employ enough personnel to reach the people on the radio awareness against fire outbreak, provide information on the causes of fire outbreak, its dangers and way out.