Badeggi FM Challenges Niger Governor’s Closure Order
Niger State-based radio station, Badeggi FM, has rejected Governor Umar Bago’s directive to shut down its operations, demanding “concrete evidence” of any wrongdoing and questioning the legality of the move.
The General Manager of Badeggi FM, Aisha Shuaibu, on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme said that the allegations of inciting public unrest and promoting anti-government sentiments were baseless and politically motivated.
“If he is saying Badeggi FM has been unethical, that we’re inciting the people against the government, then where is the evidence? We need to see the evidence. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should be the one to weigh all the facts. If we are guilty, NBC is there to sanction us,” Shuaibu said on Tuesday.
According to her, the station had neither served any formal notice of wrongdoing nor been sanctioned by the industry regulator, NBC.
Despite the governor’s closure order and a visit from Niger State Urban Development Board officials who marked the premises, the General Manager revealed Badeggi FM is still broadcasting and has not ceased operations.
The directive to close the station was issued days ago by the state government, citing concerns over what it described as unethical journalism and incitement.
However, the station believes its editorial focus on grassroots issues, particularly insecurity, banditry, and community challenges, may have triggered political discomfort.
“From our end, we always ensure we speak to people directly affected by insecurity: residents, farmers, youth leaders, and vigilantes. They appear on our live shows to tell us exactly what is happening in their communities. The governor, I believe, doesn’t want the truth out. He doesn’t want us highlighting these facts,” Shuaibu said.
She further alleged that the station’s recent interview with former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) chairman Muhammad Nami, widely believed to harbour gubernatorial ambitions for 2027, may have escalated tensions.
“I think the only thing we did recently was interview Muhammad Nami, who everyone knows is interested in contesting in 2027. I feel the governor feels threatened. He doesn’t want criticism or any alternative political option in the state, especially after the APC endorsed him for a second term,” she stated.
In a more serious accusation, the governor reportedly labelled the station’s managing director as engaging in acts amounting to treason.
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Shuaibu described this as defamatory and revealed that the station’s management is considering legal redress.
“That treason allegation against our managing director is completely unacceptable. We intend to sue him for defamation of character,” she said.
Badeggi FM has called on the NBC to independently investigate the matter, urging the commission to act based on facts rather than political pressures.
