Badeggi vs Bago: NBC, not governors, can suspend radio licenses — Minister

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has weighed in on the contentious shutdown of Badeggi Radio Station by the Niger State Government, clarifying that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the legal authority to suspend broadcasting licenses.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had on Thursday, directed the immediate closure of Badeggi FM Radio Station in Minna, accusing it of unethical broadcasting and inciting the public against his government.

The governor also reportedly ordered the confiscation of the station’s license and the profiling of its owner, as well as instructing the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the premises.

This executive action has sparked heated reactions from various quarters, with human rights groups and media advocates condemning it as an attack on media freedom and an abuse of power.

Amnesty International, for instance, described the governor’s order as “lawless and repressive,” arguing that Governor Bago lacks the constitutional power to order the closure of a radio station.

In a statement issued on Saturday, August 2, by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, Minister Idris acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders.

While welcoming the Niger State Government’s decision to formally report the perceived “unethical behaviour” of Badeggi FM, the Ministry underscored that “the suspension of broadcasting licenses falls within the purview of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as stipulated by law.”

The Minister appealed to all parties involved to remain calm, assuring that “the NBC has the necessary mechanisms to resolve the issue in a fair and impartial manner.”

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