Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has ordered the closure of Baddegi Radio, a Minna-based FM station, over what he described as inciting content and anti-government broadcasts.
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The move, which followed a Friday APC meeting, was officially communicated through a statement by the governor’s chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim. In it, Bago directed the Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Homeland Security to shut down the radio station and profile its owner for alleged “treason” and promoting unrest.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
However, findings reveal the governor’s action was triggered by a guest appearance on one of the station’s programs, where a speaker suggested that former FIRS chairman Mohammed Nami should contest for governor in 2027.
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LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
Director of Operations at Badeggi FM, Abubakar Shuaib, dismissed the accusations as baseless. He said the station was simply fulfilling its role as a public service broadcaster, highlighting local issues like insecurity and governance lapses.
Shuaib condemned the heavy-handed response, urging the governor to follow due process and channel any grievances through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which regulates the industry.
He also dismissed claims that the station lacked a license, insisting it operates within NBC guidelines and is under regular monitoring.
The closure has drawn sharp criticism from media rights groups including Amnesty International, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), who see it as a clampdown on press freedom.
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