BBC Africa is planning full coverage of the Nigerian general elections taking place next month with new TV and radio programmes set to air on stations across the country.
The coverage, including interviews with commentators and politicians, will be aired in various languages, such as the BBC News services in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Pidgin.
A statement published on the BBC Media Centre reads: “As Nigeria prepares to hold elections on February 16, BBC Africa will be offering comprehensive coverage for our local and international audiences across radio, TV, online and social media.
“During the campaign period there will be special programming across all BBC Africa’s 12 language services, including English and French as well as Nigeria-based BBC News Yoruba, BBC News Hausa, BBC News Igbo and BBC News Pidgin.”
The TV programmes include #TheSheWord, a women-in-politics discussion programme, and Fact Finder, a show that aims to verify the facts about claims made during the election campaign.
Meanwhile, TheGist, produced in partnership by Channels TV and the BBC World Service Group, aims to help Nigerian audiences understand the news better.
Jamie Angus, deputy director of the World Service Group, said: “We wanted to make a weekly programme in partnership with a trusted partner and Channels TV is the right partner; they have great coverage.
“The weekly half-hour show will help people understand issues behind the news. It is going to have a mixture of international news and is strictly for Nigerians.”
The BBC’s head of West Africa languages, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, said: “We are prepared to deliver memorable coverage of what is set to be the most competitive election in Nigeria, and even across Africa.
“Our audiences across the continent and around the world can now keep up to date with the action in 12 languages including English, Hausa and the newly launched Igbo, Pidgin and Yoruba languages.
“We will bring key interviews from politicians, commentators and viewpoints from voters on the ground. From every state, whatever the issue, BBC Africa will be there.”
BBC Africa has also revealed that more than 50 reporters will be on the ground to cover the elections.
tagged in: #TheSheWord, BBC Africa, BBC World Service Group, Elections, Fact Finder, Jamie Angus, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, TheGist