Badeggi FM Shutdown: Arewa Broadcast Media Forum Threatens Boycott of Gov. Bago

The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum, ABMPF, will boycott all official activities of
Niger State Government if it continues to undermine the freedom of the press operating in Niger
State.

The Forum’s, Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, Ajiyan Yauri made the threat after his meeting
with the Chief Executive Officer of Badeggi FM Minna.

According to Alhaji Yelwa, “I spoke this morning with Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi, the Chief Executive Officer of the station, who confirmed to me that the station is fully operational in spite of the Governor’s illegal
orders.

He, however, deployed the use of state machinery to further harass the station and stop it from
carrying out its constitutionally guaranteed duties.

Alhaji Yelwa expressed appreciation for the steadfastness and professionalism of the National
Broadcasting Commission, NBC, in declining the illegal orders of the the Niger State Governor,
Mohammed Umar Baggo, for the closure of Badeggi FM, Minna.

He equally praises the courage of the Minister of information, Mohammed Idris Malagi, for
reminding the Niger State Government that it has no authority whatsoever to regulate an NBC
licensed radio or television station.

Alhaji Yelwa called on the Niger State Governor to call his foot soldiers to order, failing which we may be
forced to direct members of the Forum in Niger State to boycott all future activities of the
Government.

“In this period of insecurity and multi-dimensional poverty in Nigeria, those in authority should
learn to be more tolerant and accommodating of alternative views and to remember that they are
in authority not for themselves but for the people they govern”

“Time has come for our leaders to develop new attitudes in their engagement with the press” He noted.