IHRC condemns unconstitutional shutdown of Badeggi Radio Station

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Niger State Chapter, strongly condemns the recent shutdown of Badeggi FM, a privately-owned radio station in the State, allegedly on the orders of the State Government under Governor  Mohammed Umaru  Bago.

The arbitrary closure of a media outlet is an affront to democratic principles, particularly the freedom of expression and access to information rights which are guaranteed under Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

This section affirms that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”

It is essential to emphasize that the issuance, regulation, and suspension of broadcast licenses in Nigeria are legally and exclusively within the jurisdiction of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as established by the NBC Act Cap N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

No state governor, regardless of the circumstances, has the constitutional power to unilaterally shut down a radio station.

As rightly asserted by the French philosopher Montesquieu, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

In a democracy, governors are not monarchs and must operate strictly within the confines of the law and constitutional boundaries. Any action to the contrary signals a descent into authoritarianism.

IHRC joins voices with other civil society organizations, media advocates, and democracy watchdogs both locally and internationally in calling on Governor Mohammed Umaru  Bago to immediately rescind the unconstitutional directive leading to the closure of Badeggi FM.

This unlawful act constitutes a violation of press freedom, civic rights, and democratic values.

We commend the Minister of Information, who has appealed for calm and assured that the NBC has the institutional framework to fairly and impartially handle broadcasting-related disputes.

We urge all parties to allow due process to take its course, without political interference or intimidation.

A democratic society thrives on dissent, diversity of opinion, and open dialogue.

Shutting down the press is not only anti-democratic, it also undermines public trust and weakens accountability in governance.

IHRC will continue to monitor developments on this matter closely and will not hesitate to escalate it to appropriate national and international human rights platforms if necessary.

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