Niger governor orders closure of radio station for ‘inciting violence’

Microphone and mixer at the radio station studio broadcasting news

Umar Bago, the governor of Niger state, has ordered the commissioner of police to seal off Badeggi FM radio station over alleged incitement of violence.

Bago issued the directive on Friday during a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders at the government house in Minna.

In a statement released by Bologi Ibrahim, the chief press secretary, the Niger governor said the “daily activities of the radio station have been unethical”.

“Governor Bago also accused the owner of the station of incitement of the people against the government and directed that the license of the radio station be revoked,” the statement reads in part.

“The governor directed the commissioner for homeland security and the commissioner of police to seal the radio station, and emphasised the need for the security operatives to profile the owner of the radio station as his station promotes violence.”

According to information posted on its website, Badeggi Radio 90.1 FM, Minna, is a private radio station established in 2020 by Shuaibu Badeggi.

Despite the directives issued to the commissioners of police and homeland security, the Niger governor lacks the legal backing to order the closure of a radio station.Issues on the broadcast content of a radio station are under the purview of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Thecable