Niger Gov Bago orders closure of private radio station over alleged inciting violence, unethical practices, attracting condemnation
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has ordered the closure of Badeggi FM Radio Station, a privately owned media outfit in Minna, the state capital, for allegedly inciting violence and unethical broadcasting practices, a development which has attracted strong condemnation from various quarters in the state.
Bago, who gave this order during the expanded Niger State APC Caucus meeting held at the Government House Minna, said the decision was taken because the daily activities of the radio station have been unethical.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the Governor accused the owner of the station of inciting the people against government and consequently directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the radio station.
He also stressed the need for the security operatives to profile the owner of the radio station as his station promotes violence.
Bago then directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the radio station and revoke its license, claiming the station promotes violence.
According to the statement, “The daily activities of the radio station have been unethical. The owner of the station has incited the people against government, and the license of the radio station be revoked.”
However, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, in a quick reaction, strongly condemned the governor’s order, describing the move as “lawless and repressive” as well as an “abuse of power.”
He argued that Bago lacks the authority to order the closure of a radio station under Nigerian law.
“Governor Bago’s order represents an alarming escalation in the clampdown on independent media… Accusing Badeggi FM of incitement without due process and moving to revoke its licence is a clear abuse of power and demonstrates an unacceptable intolerance for critical voices,” Sanusi insisted.
Amnesty International called on the Governor to withdraw his order, stressing that the closure of the radio station is “misguided and unjustifiable” while urging him to focus on addressing the state’s worsening insecurity rather than silencing the media.
Likewise, Zubair A. Idris, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Wadata Media and Advocacy Center (WAMAC), in its reaction to the unfolding development in a statement, firmly condemned the order and viewed it as an attempt to gag the press from performing its constitutional responsibility to society.
According to the statement, “We view this harsh and punitive action as an attempt to gag the press from performing its constitutional and professional responsibility.”
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), empowers journalists under Chapter Two, Section 22, to hold governments accountable. It is disheartening that a democratically elected government would hide behind the pretense of ‘public order’ to deny a broadcast station, such as Badeggi Radio, from discharging its duties unhindered.”
It continues, “We stand in solidarity with Amnesty International, the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), and the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) in condemning, in the strongest terms, the order by the Niger State Governor to close Badeggi Radio.”
“This order is an aberration of our constitution and recklessly undermines the statutory responsibility of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).”
WAMAC also urged the Governor and the Government of Niger State to come out clean by holding themselves accountable on all allegations mentioned by a guest on Badeggi Radio’s flagship programme, using the channel of right of reply.
Idris further maintained, “WAMAC calls on Governor Umar Mohammed Bago and officials of Niger State to immediately withdraw the closure order of Badeggi Radio and engage journalists and the general public with factual and verifiable statements to debunk the alleged infractions aired on the radio station.”
This development has set tongues wagging as media critics argued that the governor’s action is an open attack on media freedom and should be a source of concern.
They described his decision as solely aimed at depriving the people of fair and objective reporting in the state.
