The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has faulted the decision of Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, to shut down Badeggi FM, a privately-owned radio station in Minna, over alleged incitement and unethical conduct.
The minister, in a statement issued on Saturday through his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, insisted that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the legal authority to suspend or revoke broadcast licences in Nigeria.
This comes a day after Governor Bago reportedly ordered the police to seal the premises of Badeggi FM, accusing the station and its owner of using the platform to incite violence and promote anti-government rhetoric.
According to Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the station’s “daily operations have been unethical,” prompting the state government to direct that its licence be revoked.
But reacting, the minister warned against overstepping legal boundaries, stating that such regulatory decisions lie strictly with the NBC, in accordance with the broadcasting code and extant laws.
“While acknowledging the concerns raised, the Ministry notes that the suspension of broadcasting licenses falls within the purview of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as stipulated by law,” the statement read.
Idris added that the ministry welcomes the state government’s decision to formally report the matter to the NBC and urged all parties to remain calm while the Commission reviews the case.
“The Minister appeals to all parties to remain calm, assuring that the NBC has the necessary mechanisms to resolve the issue in a fair and impartial manner,” the statement added.
Badeggi FM, which operates on 90.1FM, was established in 2020 by media entrepreneur, Shuaibu Badeggi. It is one of the few privately-owned radio stations operating in Niger State.
The closure of the station has sparked reactions from media stakeholders and press freedom advocates, with many urging government authorities to follow due process and uphold freedom of expression as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
Under the NBC Act, only the Commission — an independent regulatory agency under the Ministry of Information — has the mandate to grant, suspend, or revoke broadcast licences based on established violations.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Badeggi FM has since gone off air, while the management is yet to issue an official response to the development.
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