Several media organisations and civil society groups, including the International Press Centre, International Press Institute, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), have expressed concern over the closure of Badegi FM, a Niger state-based radio station, by State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. These groups have
Several media organisations and civil society groups, including the International Press Centre, International Press Institute, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), have expressed concern over the closure of Badegi FM, a Niger state-based radio station, by State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. These groups have called for an immediate reversal of this decision, stating that it is inconsistent with democratic principles.
In separate statements on Sunday, the organisations criticised the Governor for ordering the sealing of a private radio station during an APC meeting on August 1, alleging it incited violence and aired unethical content. The Governor called for the radio station’s licence to be revoked and its owner profiled, an action seen as further repression of press freedom and journalists’ rights in a democracy.
In a statement, IPC, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, said the action was to gag the media and to create an intimidating environment for the media in a democratic government.
Quoting the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the statement said, “This is a pure abuse of Executive powers and an abysmal display of lack of regard for the media institution.”
“Assuming without conceding that the station committed an infraction, the state Governor should have taken his grievance to any of the relevant media regulatory bodies,” Mr. Arogundade intensified.
“IPC-SPJ Hub reinforces that the media should not be gagged, regardless of the context and the content of the affected incident. Nowhere across the globe will a Governor order the closure of any media organisation. We are no longer in the military regime, where fear and intimidation are the order of the day.
“IPC-SPJ Hub is therefore calling for the immediate and unconditional reopening of Badegi 90.1FM and a total stop to the crackdown on press freedom in Nigeria, especially by duty bearers”.
In the same vein, the International Press Institute (IPI) warned the Niger state government to reopen the station, providing a 48-hour window before including the Governor and his administration in the book of infamy and categorising them as repressors of press freedom in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by President Musikilu Mojeed and Legal Adviser Tobi Soniyi, IPI Nigeria issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the governor, demanding the reversal of the station’s closure. IPI characterised the radio station’s shutdown as a clear infringement on press freedom and expressed concern over what it sees as an increasing pattern of media repression under the current state administration.
The group added that Governor Bago’s actions are an abuse of power and conflict with Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which protect freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom.
“If Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago fails to unconditionally reverse this illegal suspension within the next 48 hours, IPI Nigeria will be left with no choice but to include his name in our Book of Infamy,” the statement read.
“Governor Bago’s administration must uphold the inalienable rights of the people of Niger State, including their rights to free expression, access to information, and freedom of the press,” IPI Nigeria stated.
Similarly, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) also described the actions of the Niger state Governor as “worrisome” and as an act of executive overreach and an outright abuse of state powers.
A statement signed by Busola Ajibola, the Deputy Director, Journalism Programme,
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) reminded the Niger state governor and the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, that the responsibility to regulate and revoke the licence of a broadcast station rests exclusively with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and not on a state governor.
The organisation called for the immediate rescind of the directive against the radio station, calling on the Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) in Niger State to reject illegal orders and cease the harassment of journalists.
“This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of intimidation against journalists by the Niger State government under the Governor Umaru Bago-led administration documented by the CJID’s Press Attack Tracker, including the November 2023 assault on a Voice of America reporter, Mustapha Batsari, and the repeated detention of the People’s Daily correspondent in January and April 2025 by the state security apparatus, the statement reads.
“The unilateral order by the governor constitutes an attack on the right of the people of the state to be informed and the right of the broadcast station to carry out its lawful duties of informing the public. Any grievances against the station’s content or alleged unethical conduct should be directed to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman or to the NBC through the proper legal channels.
“These systematic attacks create a climate of fear, aiming to silence critical voices and prevent the press from fulfilling its constitutional duty to hold the government accountable. Using state security agencies to harass the media is a diversionary tactic from pressing issues, including the pervasive insecurity ravaging the state.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Guild of Editors also, in its statement, described the closure of the Badegi Radio Station by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago as a retrogressive action which violates the country’s constitution, which upholds the press freedom, by taking the country back to a reminder of the military days.
Signed by Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, the President and the General Secretary of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, the body expressed their displeasure with the “censorship and intimidation undermining the fundamental principles of a democratic society, where free press is essential for holding those in power accountable.”
The editors also called on the government officials to respect the principle of democracy and urged them to respect the rights of citizens to access information and express themselves freely, demanding the immediate reopening while the investigation continues.
‘The closure of Badeggi Radio, a vital platform for public discourse and information dissemination, is a worrying trend that threatens the very fabric of our democracy. “Governor Bago acted outside his powers to order the closure of a radio station. The power to sanction television and radio stations only lies with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) after a thorough investigation of any alleged breach of the Code.
“We are happy that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, has pointed this out. This should go beyond observing the anomaly. The federal government should order the unsealing of the premises of the radio station while an investigation is carried out. Government officials should know that we are in a democracy, and therefore, the act of arbitrary order for the sealing off and closure of a radio station is unacceptable. Arbitrary closure of media houses reminds us of the dark days of military rule, which ended 26 years ago.
“Governor Bago’s allegation of incitement of violence by the radio station is a serious issue, which has to be investigated and proven before any action can be taken. We urge the media to operate under strict adherence to the code of ethics of journalism, with responsible conduct at the back of the minds of the professionals.
We also call on the authorities to take measures to respect the rights of citizens to access information and express themselves freely. Badeggi Radio should be reopened while the investigation continues.
“The Guild reiterates that a free and independent press is essential for a functioning democracy and demands that governments at all levels respect and uphold this fundamental right,” it said.
Similarly, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) condemned the development, describing it as illegal, arbitrary, and a dangerous assault on broadcasting freedom, calling on the Governor to immediately and unconditionally reopen the station and issue a public apology for the closure.
In a statement signed by Idowu Adewale, MRA Communications Officer, the organisation’s Programme Officer, Mr. John Gbadamosi, stated that criticism of the government is not a crime because it is essential to any functioning democracy, and it is also a constitutional right and duty imposed on the media by Section 22 of the Constitution.
MRA said in the statement that “The Governor’s action amounts to an abuse of his office and a clear breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, particularly Paragraph 9 of the Code. Should the Governor fail to immediately and unconditionally reverse his directives, we will take appropriate action to ensure that he is held accountable for this egregious violation of the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the corollary rights of the people in the State to receive ideas and information.”
“Citing the provisions of Paragraph 9 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, which states that “A public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy”, he noted that there is no doubt that the Governor’s actions amount to a violation of the Code as he has no authority to order the shutting down of the station or the revocation of its license.”
MRA further add maintained that “Governor Bago knows or ought to know that he has no power to shut down any radio station or to direct the revocation of its license, as the regulation of broadcasting in Nigeria is not under his control or authority. He added that by nonetheless purporting to exercise powers and authority which he does not have, in violation of the rights of the owners and staff of the radio station as well as the access to information rights all the residents of the State who receive news and information from the station, the Governor has abused his powers, violated his oath of office and breached the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
“Governor Bago is advised to concentrate his attention and efforts on performing his functions and carrying out the responsibilities of his office by the Constitution, which states that the primary purpose of government is to ensure the security and welfare of the people, and allow the media to similarly perform the functions imposed on them by the Constitution, the most important of which are reminding the government of its responsibilities to the people and holding the government accountable to the people.”
“Mr Gbadamosi urged the NBC to assert its independence in the matter by acting decisively against any attempt to illegally usurp its authority while also upholding the independence of broadcast media under its regulatory purview.”
