*as NGE kick, describing that closure as arbitrary

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, 48 hours to reverse what it described as the “arbitrary and unlawful” shutdown of Badeggi FM 90.1, an independent radio station in Minna, the state capital.

In an open letter dated August 2 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation asked the governor to reinstate the station’s licence, withdraw threats to demolish its premises, and stop profiling its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi.

Your vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of ‘inciting violence’ against Badeggi FM and its owner are apparently made to silence the radio station and its owner,” SERAP said in the letter.

SERP’s ultimatum came as the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, condemned the closure of the media house for not following laid down procedures. 

While the NGE described the closure as a reenactment of the Military dictatorship, the Minister said only the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is statutorily permitted to investigate infractions labelled against electronic media houses and carry out appropriate action after such investigations.

Recal that Gov. Bago had last Friday, ordered the state Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Homeland Security, to seal off the Badeggi FM, revoke its licence and demolish the building, a power the governor does not constitutionally have.

He also allegedly directed the profiling of the station’s owners over alleged accusations that the station’s daily broadcasts were unethical and incite the public against the government.

SERAP in its ultimatum, warned that such action could seriously undermine press freedom ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It said, “The crackdown on Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern.

“By your arbitrary and unlawful restrictions on Badeggi FM, you have seriously undermined the public’s right to be meaningfully informed, and consequently the station’s capacity to engage in the public discourse that sustains a democratic society.”

The group described the move as a “blatant violation” of both the Constitution and international human rights treaties to which the country is a signatory, including Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“Shutting down the station, arbitrarily revoking its licence, threatening to unlawfully demolish its premises and profiling the station’s owner are all clearly antithetical to the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international human rights obligations,” the letter read.