Governor Bago gave the directive during an expanded All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting held at the Government House in Minna.
The Niger State government under Umar Bago has ordered the immediate closure of Badeggi FM, a privately owned radio station based in the state, over allegations of incitement and unethical broadcasting practices.
Governor Bago gave the directive during an expanded All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting held at the Government House in Minna.
According to a release obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, the governor accused the station of encouraging unrest through its daily programming and instructed relevant security agencies to take swift action.
“The daily activities of the radio station have been unethical,” the release by Bologi Ibrahim, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor noted.
He alleged further that, “The owner of the Station has incited the people against government,” adding that, “the license of the Radio station be revoked.”
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police “to seal the radio station,” stressing that, “the security operatives should profile the owner of the radio station as his station promotes violence.”
Governor Bago and his inner circles have recently been known for media clampdown and a hard stance on dissenting voices.
Bellnews recently reported that Barrister Lakpene Yusuf, an in-law to Governor Umaru Bago, called on security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute social media users who criticise the governor, citing provisions of the Cybercrime Act and Niger State’s criminal justice law.
He had made the statement in a Facebook post, warning that no one was above the law.
Yusuf said those attacking the governor under the guise of free speech should be punished without delay.
He had insisted that Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, does not give citizens the right to insult or ridicule public officials.
According to him, “negative comments and abuse of farmer governor should be stopped as nobody is above the law of the land.”
He then urged security operatives to take action, stating: “Therefore, it is time for our security officials not to wait for any formal complaints but to use sections 170 or 176 (a)(b) of the Administration of Crimimal Justice Law of Niger State 2022 to deal with anybody that contravens the provisions of sections 5,19,22,24 of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 by prosecution of such individual.
“The article is so put up in the social media is enough to be used as evidence as the law so allow it to be used in court for prosecution.”
He concluded by declaring Governor Bago’s leadership as divinely ordained and urged critics to stop what he described as “biased criticism.”
“It’s enough, our dutiful Farmer Governor should no longer be subject to any form of redicle (sic). At least wheather (sic) one likes it or not, today Allah has made him the Niger State Governor and In-sha-Allah till 2031,” he said.
“So accept Allah’s doing otherwise if one continues to dig ditch, such person is likely to fall into it.”