By Mustapha Salisu
A directive by Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to shut down Badeggi FM Radio in Minna has sparked outrage and concerns over press freedom.
The governor, during an expanded meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus at the Government House in Minna, ordered the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (Rtd), to seal the station.
He also directed that the station’s licence be confiscated and its owner profiled.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor accused the station of inciting the public against the government and “promoting violence” through its programming.
“Governor Bago directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the radio station and emphasised the need to profile its owner,” Ibrahim said.
Reacting to the development, Badeggi FM’s Director of Operations, Abubakar Shuaib, urged the governor to follow due process by lodging any complaints with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) rather than using security operatives to harass the station.
“The NBC monitors all our programmes daily. If there are concerns about our content, the governor should petition the NBC for investigation instead of resorting to intimidation. Our role is to hold leaders accountable, not to undermine peace or security,” Shuaib stated.