This report from a missionary in Tegina, Nigeria was received recently (Tegina is approximately 400 km east of our new station in Benin).

“Greetings in the Lord,

I am a missionary (British) working in Niger State in Nigeria and have been enjoying transmissions from your new station in Benin since they commenced on 1 February. I read in the TWR-Africa newsletter that you had not had reception reports from Nigeria so I thought I should get in touch. I probably should have done so earlier, but I do not have easy access to e-mail.

I live in the town of Kagara (near Tegina, north-west of Minna) in Niger State, Nigeria. I am roughly due east from Parakou and according to your coverage maps on the website that puts me in the gap between the two circles. That may explain why reception here on 1566 is not strong all the time.

The beginning of your evening transmissions at 17.00 UTC (6 p.m. local time) is barely audible as the signal is very weak at that time (and also I suffer from local interference on medium wave). Sadly, that means that the Hausa programme (17.15), which is the most appropriate in this area, is not easy to hear (the 18.30 UTC transmission from South Africa on short wave is still better). However, the 1566 signal gets stronger as it gets darker. I am usually able to listen to the African English programme (17.50) though there is a problem with fading. By the time the Yoruba programme is on the air the 1566 signal is very good and remains strong until the end of the French programmes and closedown.

The morning transmissions are strong and so the 04.00 UTC (5 a.m.) Hausa programme is well heard (I know of one pastor in the town who listens after I recommended it to him). The American English programme following and other languages are strong also and the signal is still good at closedown, but I expect if it went on longer it would deteriorate as we get further into daylight hours.

I am excited by these new transmissions and pray that God will guide people to tune in to the language programmes they understand. May God bless all of you involved in this wonderful work.”

Published 11 April 2008