₦airaland Forum

GOVERNOR Mohammed Bago’s shutdown of Badeggi 90.1 FM in Minna is an autocratic overreach and a grave assault on press freedom. No democratic government that respects the Nigerian Constitution should padlock a newsroom simply because it dislikes its editorial stance.

Yet that is exactly what happened when Niger State officials sealed the station on Bago’s orders on July 31. The governor cited allegations of “public incitement” and “security concerns”, claiming the station promoted violence.

He ordered the profiling of the station’s owner and withdrew its licence. But Bago’s actions are ultra vires. Only the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, has the authority to issue or revoke broadcast licences. The governor cannot rescind what he never granted.

Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press. The NBC has established procedures for investigating breaches and sanctioning offenders. A governor has no legal authority to summarily shut down a broadcaster. When the executive acts as accuser, judge, and enforcer, due process dies, and with it, public trust.

As expected, the backlash was swift. Amnesty International called the move an “abuse of power”. The Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalists, and Nigerian Bar Association have also condemned the closure, insisting that grievances against the media must be addressed through lawful regulators and courts, not through bulldozers and police lockdowns.

Civil society organisations and media lawyers point out that if content truly crossed a legal line, the remedy is transparent adjudication, not collective punishment of staff and audiences.

Defenders of the Niger State Government argue that security exigencies justify exceptional measures. This claim, however, does not hold up to the slightest scrutiny.

First, no evidence has been publicly presented to demonstrate that Badeggi FM posed a threat to public safety.

Second, even in emergencies, constitutional rights do not vanish; they are balanced through law, not by unchecked fiat.

Third, silencing a community radio station in a state grappling with banditry and rural violence is strategically myopic.

Local stations are force multipliers for peacebuilding: they dispel rumours, amplify early-warning alerts, and provide authorities with platforms to inform, reassure, and mobilise citizens.

Shutting them down only drives anxious populations into the arms of misinformation merchants.

There is also a broader danger. Each extra-legal closure sets a precedent that other governors can cite to silence critical voices.

Today, it is Badeggi FM; tomorrow, it could be any newsroom questioning security spending, palliative distribution, land grabs, or procurement. Nigerians know this playbook well: when power is allergic to scrutiny, it resorts to chains.

A government confident in its legitimacy answers speech with speech and facts with better facts—not by locking studio doors.

If officials believe Badeggi FM erred, let the NBC investigate openly; let the station be heard; let any sanctions be proportionate and appealable. Anything less is executive impunity.

Moreover, the Federal Government and the NBC cannot stand by while sub-national actors vandalise the regulatory order. The commission should urgently clarify that only it can sanction broadcasters and should mediate a lawful, time-bound path to the station’s reopening.

Parliament must also exercise oversight: summon the parties, scrutinise the facts, and warn against a creeping culture of censorship by convenience.

To the courts: the rule of law exists precisely to restrain moments like this. Any media house facing extra-legal closure should seek immediate judicial relief. Judges must act with the urgency these cases demand.

A free press is not a privilege of lobbyists; it is a public utility. Shutting it down silences communities.

The Niger State Government must reverse course. It should unseal Badeggi FM and pursue any substantive complaints through proper channels.

It should use the airwaves, not arbitrary force, to win hearts, correct errors, and build the social consensus every state needs to confront insecurity. The governor cannot strengthen security by strangling scrutiny; he is only deepening fear, fuelling rumours, and forfeiting legitimacy.

Nigeria cannot afford that bargain. Reopen the station. Obey the law. Strengthen—not suffocate—the oxygen of Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

https://punchng.com/bago-unseal-badeggi-fm-now/

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This is what this grossly insensitive government have produced - a band of irresponsible and increasingly intolerant power drunk autocratic and tyrannical fellas called leaders.

Una never see anything. When you journalists were saying rubbish when he closed the station, I thought you journalists would match to the station with your army and the Obidients and open the station, so na only mouth una get

Good for him. Let there be freedom of speech. The governor should learn to handle things lawfully.

The level of executive lawlessness and rascality being perpetrated by the APC-led administration is without precedent in the annals of human history.

RichBoy247:
Una never see anything. When you journalists were saying rubbish when he closed the station, I thought you journalists would match to the station with your army and the Obidients and open the station, so na only mouth una get

The problem with some of una be say you don't even know that all these affects you too

Until another government comes and start doing it to your people

I remembered when Rivers people were hailing Wike's Edo no be Lagos

Now wetin he dey do dem no even pass Lagos own

No governor, na just their stooge dey call the shots

Like play like play people don forget the mata..

Hmmm.

All I can say is
No allow make online people push you enter trouble

They no fit save u

ambale:
The problem with some of una be say you don't even know that all these affects you too

Until another government comes and start doing it to your people

I remembered when Rivers people were hailing Wike's Edo no be Lagos

Now wetin he dey do dem no even pass Lagos own

No governor, na just their stooge dey call the shots

No cry, no cry, no cry. The guy above me is talking to you, do not let online people punch inside bottomless pit

Ofunaofu:
The level of executive lawlessness and rascality being perpetrated by the APC-led administration is without precedent in the annals of human history.

Yes, we always do unprecedented things. That’s why we are the Master of the game.

Check what Jonathan’s government did below

ambale:
The problem with some of una be say you don't even know that all these affects you too

Until another government comes and start doing it to your people

I remembered when Rivers people were hailing Wike's Edo no be Lagos

Now wetin he dey do dem no even pass Lagos own

No governor, na just their stooge dey call the shots

But sometimes...
People needs to respect the code of institutions

There was a time Berekete in Abuja was shot down because of misconduct.

Am not say the government should suppress freedom of speech.

But if u want freedom of speech don't be a Radio journalist... Be a social media or investigative journalist

But as a Radio and TV journalist.. There are codes

Even on this platform, there are words u can't use if not u will be suspended, so are u saying Seun is suppressing freedom of speech

Where I don't like we Nigerians is we use emotions to see issues. I don't think anyone hv even done any research to no exactly what does guys did before making comments

We just come here and paint one person wrong base on the one side news we heard, we don't even no wat the station did, no news outlets is outlining wat they did

Why will they... The news have an purpose

If not partially democracy,this man for worse pass military dictator.
Abi head dey work one kind.


Nai also say make dreadlock person nor enter Nigeria state before e shift mouth.


It's high time politicians got tested for mental fitness.

Some may have kolo.

favour32:
If not partially democracy,this man for worse pass military dictator.
Abi head dey work one kind.


Nai also say make dreadlock person nor enter Nigeria state before e shift mouth.


It's high time politicians got tested for mental fitness.

Some may have kolo.

Can you post your medical certificate of mental fitness here first a start?

RichBoy247:
Una never see anything. When you journalists were saying rubbish when he closed the station, I thought you journalists would match to the station with your army and the Obidients and open the station, so na only mouth una get

direct me to the article where all these your lamba was said
I have come to realise y’all would say anything to involve obi lmao
Thats gutta mentality lmao

funsho75:
But sometimes...
People needs to respect the code of institutions

There was a time Berekete in Abuja was shot down because of misconduct.

Am not say the government should suppress freedom of speech.

But if u want freedom of speech don't be a Radio journalist... Be a social media or investigative journalist

But as a Radio and TV journalist.. There are codes

Even on this platform, there are words u can't use if not u will be suspended, so are u saying Seun is suppressing freedom of speech

Where I don't like we Nigerians is we use emotions to see issues. I don't think anyone hv even done any research to no exactly what does guys did before making comments

We just come here and paint one person wrong base on the one side news we heard, we don't even no wat the station did, no news outlets is outlining wat they did

Why will they... The news have an purpose

Media all over the world are always controversial

Infact controversies sells more

The government are only afraid of the oppositions using the media as a tool to aggravate their shortcomings

If the government was really working for the people as they claim why should they worry about all these

Do you listen to TVC and Radio Continental abi wetin dem call am, prior to the 2015 elections??

Even Programs that were not politics program was used to attack GEJ and still their station was not closed

Infact our media are now more government friendly still they are still gagging them

Just imagine that the only news reportage channel na NTA

The APC government is just a plain hater of the media

englishmart:
Is this not the guy that pretends to be inclusive?

head slammers are nver inclusive....they always pretend

RichBoy247:
Can you post your medical certificate of mental fitness here first a start?

Abuse of power is really intoxicating you all.

Continue..

Punch used to carry weight.

These days, it has zero influence.

The man will probably just ignore them.

favour32:
If not partially democracy,this man for worse pass military dictator.
Abi head dey work one kind.


Nai also say make dreadlock person nor enter Nigeria state before e shift mouth.


It's high time politicians got tested for mental fitness.

Some may have kolo.

What do you expect from a ganja governor who is a junkie on drugs and a cocaine sniffer

He will not unseal it,Do your worse.....Even Arise TV should have been sealed

ambale:
Media all over the world are always controversial

Infact controversies sells more

The government are only afraid of the oppositions using the media as a tool to aggravate their shortcomings

If the government was really working for the people as they claim why should they worry about all these

Do you listen to TVC and Radio Continental abi wetin dem call am, prior to the 2015 elections??

Even Programs that were not politics program was used to attack GEJ and still their station was not closed

Infact our media are now more government friendly still they are still gagging them

Just imagine that the only news reportage channel na NTA

The APC government is just a plain hater of the media

No body is saying you should no do propaganda...
That is what Arise does every day.

But there are some words you can't say. Even almighty arise will tell guest to withdraw some statement sometimes

My point is everything has its own code