The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Sunday gave Niger State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago 48 hours to reverse his decision to shut down an independent radio station in Minna, reinstate its licence and withdraw a threat to demolish its premises.
SERAP said that Bago’s actions against Badeggi FM 90.1 and its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi, violated constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and international human rights obligations.
Bago last week directed the state’s police commissioner and commissioner for homeland security to seal the station, revoke its licence, profile its owner and mark the premises for demolition over what he alleged were unethical broadcasts promoting violence.
SERAP described the allegations as vague and unfounded, saying they were “apparently made to silence the radio station and its owner” and warning of a chilling effect on press freedom ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of your constitutional oath of office and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations,” SERAP said.
The group urged the governor to stop using the National Broadcasting Commission and law enforcement agencies “to further crack down on Badeggi FM” and to guarantee the rights of its staff.
SERAP said the closure and threats undermined the public’s right to be informed and impeded the station’s watchdog role in a democratic society.
“Any restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom must be provided by law, imposed to protect legitimate aims, and necessary to protect those aims. However, your directive is neither lawful nor necessary,” it said.
Bago has not publicly responded to SERAP’s demands.
