Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has ordered the immediate shutdown of Badeggi FM 90.1, a private radio station in Minna, accusing it of inciting violence against his government. The directive, issued during an All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting on Thursday, has drawn backlash from media groups and rights organizations, who view it as an assault on press freedom.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Governor Bago claimed the station’s broadcasts were unethical and fueled unrest. He instructed the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (retired), and the police to seal the station and investigate its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi, alleging the outlet threatened public peace. The governor also called for the revocation of its license—a move critics say oversteps his legal powers.
Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the decision, labeling it an abuse of authority aimed at silencing dissent. Isa Sanusi, the group’s director, stated that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) can legally revoke licenses, urging Bago to retract his order.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Niger State also denounced the closure, stressing that complaints should be filed with the NBC rather than resorting to unilateral action. NUJ Secretary Usman Chiji warned that shutting down media houses without due process sets a dangerous precedent.
Badeggi FM’s Director of Operations, Abubakar Shuaib, denied allegations of incitement, asserting that the station operates in the public interest. He challenged the governor to submit any grievances to the NBC for review.
The shutdown occurs amid rising insecurity in Niger State, including attacks by armed groups. Critics, like the Minna-based Accountability Ambassadors, argue that targeting media distracts from addressing security crises. The group’s spokesperson, Muhammad Alfa Muhammad, emphasized that closing a media outlet without proper procedure violates constitutional free speech protections.
This incident follows prior tensions between Governor Bago’s administration and journalists. Last November, a reporter accused the Homeland Security Commissioner of assault, while a relative of the governor recently demanded arrests of social media critics.
As debates continue, journalists and residents worry the closure may suppress free expression and limit access to independent news. The government has not yet provided concrete evidence of the alleged incitement, prompting calls for Bago to reverse the decision and seek resolution through lawful channels.
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