CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMES IN MAIDUGURI

ABSTRACT This study examines the challenges and prospects of religious broadcasting in Maiduguri, Borno State, a city profoundly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency and ongoing security challenges. The research aimed to explore the operational, contextual, and technological barriers confronting religious program producers and to identify sustainable strategies for enhancing their role in peacebuilding, moral development, and community cohesion. Employing a qualitative research design with an interpretivist approach, data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with fifteen (15) purposively selected producers from major broadcast stations in Maiduguri, including Borno Radio Television (BRTV), Dandal Kura Radio International, Peace FM, Al-Ansar Radio, and NTA Maiduguri. Thematic analysis revealed that producers operate under a pervasive climate of insecurity that enforces self-censorship, while simultaneously grappling with chronic financial constraints, infrastructural deficiencies, and weak regulatory enforcement. Despite these challenges, religious programs have adapted to serve as vital tools for psychological resilience, integrating community development messages with spiritual content. Digital platforms present both opportunities for expanded reach and new challenges related to technical capacity and unregulated content. The study concludes that religious broadcasting in Maiduguri is a resilient yet under-optimized force for social healing. It recommends the establishment of a security-sensitive capacity-building initiative, a structured interfaith co-production forum, and a digital innovation hub to address systemic constraints and fully harness the sector’s potential for promoting sustainable peace and development in the post-conflict society.