The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago, demanding the immediate reversal of the shutdown of Badeggi FM, a privately owned radio station in Minna.
SERAP described the move as “arbitrary and unlawful” and urged the governor to reinstate the station’s licence, withdraw the threat to demolish the premises, and end the crackdown on freedom of expression and media freedom in Niger State.
In an open letter dated August 2, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation described the move as “arbitrary and unlawful.”
The group urged the governor to “reinstate the station’s licence, withdraw the threat to demolish the premises, and end the crackdown on freedom of expression and media freedom in Niger State.”
The group also called on the governor “to immediately end attacks against Shuaibu Badeggi, the owner of Badeggi FM 90.1, and other staff members,” demanding public guarantees of their safety and liberty.
“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 stated.
The governor ordered the immediate shutdown of Badeggi FM, directed the revocation of its licence, and instructed the state’s Commissioner of Homeland Security to profile the station’s owner.
He justified the action, accusing the station of inciting the public, practising unprofessional journalism, and undermining the New Niger Development Agenda.
The organisation called for an end to attacks against Shuaibu Badeggi, the owner of Badeggi FM, and other staff members, and demands public guarantees of their safety and liberty.
SERAP emphasised that media outlets in Niger State must be free to enable debate on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.
According to SERAP, the crackdown on Badeggi FM is capable of discouraging press participation in debates over public concern ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Media outlets in Niger State must be free to enable debate on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals,” it added.
The organisation insisted that any restrictions on the press must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. “Your directive is neither lawful nor necessary. It also does not protect any legitimate public interest,” it noted.
SERAP also stressed that invoking national security as a basis for the shutdown is unjustifiable and warned that such actions undermine democratic values.
“The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect the press not merely so that specific journalists may conduct their work; they protect the press in order to guarantee the public’s right of access to information in the public interest,” SERAP stated.
The organisation also lamented that the Badeggi FM shutdown represents a growing trend of harassment, intimidation, and attacks on journalists and independent media in Niger State and beyond.
Also reacting to the move, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned the shutdown as “executive rascality of the highest order,” saying that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the legal authority to revoke broadcast licences, not a state governor.
