By Hamilton Nwosu
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, demanding the immediate reversal of what it called the “arbitrary and unlawful” closure of Badeggi FM 90.1, a privately owned radio station in Minna.
The Governor’s directive, SERAP claimed violated constitutional and international human rights obligations.
Recall that on Friday, August 1, 2025, Bago ordered the immediate closure of Badeggi FM during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Minna.
Citing “unethical broadcasts” and alleged incitement against his administration, Bago directed the state’s Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Homeland Security to seal the station, revoke its broadcasting license, and profile its owner, Shuaibu Badeggi.
However, SERAP, in an open letter dated, signed by its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, condemned the move as a “blatant violation” of Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The organization described the allegations of incitement as “vague, unfounded, and unsubstantiated,” accusing the governor of attempting to silence critical voices.
The statement reads in part: “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.
“The shutting down of the station, arbitrarily revoking its licence, threatening to unlawfully demolish its premises, and profiling the station’s owner are all antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations.
“Media outlets in Niger State must be free to enable debate on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.
“The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect the press not merely so that specific journalists may conduct their work; they protect the press to guarantee the public’s right of access to information in the public interest.”
