Amanze ChinonyeThe Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Amnesty International, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have strongly condemned the closure of Badeggi FM 90.1, a privately-owned radio station in Minna, Niger State, describing the action as unlawful, repressive, and a violation of constitutional press freedoms.
The controversy began on Friday, August 1, when Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, during an APC stakeholders’ meeting, accused Badeggi FM of unethical broadcasting and incitement. He directed that the station’s licence be revoked, its premises sealed and marked for demolition, and its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi, profiled by security agencies. No evidence was presented, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) the only regulatory body legally empowered to revoke a broadcast licence under Section 2(1)(b) of the NBC Act was not involved in the process.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn an open letter dated August 2, SERAP issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Bago demanding an immediate reversal of the shutdown, protection for the station’s staff, and reinstatement of its licence. The group warned of impending legal action if the directive is not withdrawn. “The arbitrary closure of the station is an attack on media freedom and a violation of the constitutional and international legal obligations binding on Nigerian authorities,” SERAP stated.
Amnesty International also denounced the action in a firm statement, describing the governor’s move as “lawless and repressive.” According to the organisation’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi,
“The governor’s allegation against the radio station of ‘inciting violence’ and his reckless order that the licence of the radio station be revoked clearly show abuse of power and unacceptable intolerance of critical voices. The order for the closure of the radio station is misguided and unjustifiable.”
Sanusi further criticized the state government’s priorities amid worsening insecurity in the region:
“While bandits and insurgents are ravaging Niger State through killings and massive displacements of rural communities, pointing accusing fingers at a radio station clearly shows a failure of leadership.”
He added that the move fits a wider pattern of efforts to instill fear in newsrooms and intimidate journalists across Nigeria.
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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also condemned the governor’s action, calling it a brazen abuse of executive power. In a statement issued by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said:
“This is how autocracy begins not with tanks in the streets, but with microphones being seized and studios being bulldozed. This brazen assault on the press is how democracies slowly die.”
The party reaffirmed that only the NBC has the statutory authority to regulate or sanction broadcast operations, and warned that Governor Bago’s unilateral order erodes public trust and sets a dangerous precedent.
In response to the growing backlash, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for calm, confirming that the state government has submitted a formal complaint to the NBC. He reaffirmed that only the Commission is authorised to adjudicate broadcasting violations, and urged all parties to respect due process.
Media unions, civil society organisations, and professional associations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), have joined calls for the station to be reopened immediately. They argue that the action not only stifles independent journalism but also deprives citizens of their right to access credible information.
As SERAP’s 48-hour deadline draws closer, the Niger State Government has yet to respond formally. The fate of Badeggi FM remains uncertain, but observers warn that the outcome could have far-reaching implications for press freedom and democratic governance in Nigeria.
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