Berrap gives Niger Gov, Bago, 48 hours to reopen closed radio stations, or …

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Umar Bago, the Governor of the Niger state to “immediately reverse the arbitrary decision and violate the law to disarm the Badggi FM Radio Station from your license, restore the station license and withdrawing media freedom at Niger.

The absorption of him “to immediately end your attack against Shuibu Badeggi, the owner of Badegggi FM 90.1, and other staff members from the radio station, openly guarantee their rights to the freedom and safety of people, and end the impunity that applies to violations of freedom of expression and media freedom in your country.”

Absorbing him and his government “to refrain from arguing the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and law enforcement agents to take further action against Badeggi FM and to uphold your office oath to protect Nigerian expression freedom and media freedom in the state of Niger.”

Bago last Friday directed the Commissioner of the State Police and Domestic Security Commissioners to seal independent media outlets, Badeggi FM Radio, Minna, pulled out his license, made the owner’s profile and threatened to destroy the station’s place, because he was not happy with the broadcast.

In an open letter dated August 2, 2025 and signed by the Deputy Director of Collawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Your accusation is vague, baseless, and baseless from ‘inciting violence’ against Badggi FM and the owner seems to be made to silence radio stations and their owners.”

Absorb said, “silent critical votes or differences of opinion with the guise of national security issues that are unclear and unfounded are fundamental violations of your constitutional oath and Nigerian international human rights obligations.”

According to absorption, “silenced Badeggi FM and its owners will have a terrible effect on the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom in several countries.”

The letter was read in part: “Turning off the station, arbitrarily revoking the license, threatening to illegally destroy the premise and make the profile of the station owner all clearly contrary to the requirements of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligation.

“We will be grateful if the recommended steps are taken within 48 hours after the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard of news from you at that time, absorbing will take all the right legal actions to force you and your government to fulfill our requests for the public interest.”

“The crush on Badeggi FM and its owners were able to reduce the participation of press in the debate about the issue of legal public concern before the 2027 General Election.”

“With arbitrary restrictions and violating your law to Badeggi FM, you have seriously damaged the public’s right to get meaningful information – and as a result the capacity of the station to be involved in public discourse that sustains a democratic society – is also at stake.”

“Your brutal attack on Badeggi FM, its owner and other staff staff members are serious restrictions on the development of democracy in the country, because it hampered free debate about ideas and opinions.”

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“Media outlets in the state of Niger must be free to allow debates about the issue of public interests without fear of retaliation.”

“The closure of the station, revocation of licenses, profiling of its owners and threats to destroy the premise to threaten the ability of the station and his staff to carry out their professional and constitutional duties and a broader landscape than independent media in Nigeria.”

“Your suspension is recognized by the Badeggi FM Radio Station license and the closure of the station is a bright violation of Article 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Nigeria is a state party and that binds your government.”

“Your instructions to revoke the station license, cover it and destroy the premise are also insult to Nigeria’s right to find, accept, and provide ‘all types’ information and participate in public discourse.”

“Your government also fails to respect and uphold constitutional and international human rights obligations to ensure that journalists and media houses that regularly provide information about the issue of public interests including Badeggi FM enjoy the environment to carry out the function.”

“There is a significant public interest in the press capacity including Badeggi FM to obtain and provide information that needs to function properly and carry out the role of vital public supervisors.”

“Every restriction on freedom of expression and freedom of the media must be provided by law, imposed to protect legal goals, and is needed to protect these goals.”

“However, your direction is invalid or necessary. It also does not protect legal public interests. Any limitations to freedom of expression must remain an exception and must be strictly applied so as not to endanger the right itself.”

“While the Nigerian Constitution and Human Rights Agreement recognize national security and public order as a legal goal to limit freedom of expression, the UN Human Rights Council has emphasized ‘the need to ensure that national security prayers are not used unfairly or arbitrarily to limit the right to freedom of opinion and expression’.” “

“Your government has failed to show the risk that Badegggi FM activities pose for a definite interest in national security or public order.”

“According to our information, you reportedly ordered the closing of Badeggi FM 90.1, a private radio station in Minna, ordered the station to be marked for demolition and asked for the security commissioner of Homeland to create the profile of the Shuaibu Badeggi station station on the unexpected suspicion that the station.

“You reportedly stated that ‘the daily activities of the radio station are unethical’, and accuse the owner of the people’s incitement station against the government. ‘”

“You reportedly gave directions that violate the law on Friday 1 August 2025 during the meeting of the Progressive Congress Stakeholders (APC) held at the Government Building in Minna.”

“The rights of journalists or radio stations for freedom of expression are protected even if the opinion advances is not positively accepted.”

“The Nigerian constitution and human rights agreements protect the press not only so that certain journalists can carry out their work; they protect the press to guarantee the public’s right to access information for the public interest.”

“The absorption is absorbed that the closing of Badeggi FM is only the latest example of the pattern of harassment, intimidation, and attack by your government on journalists and others who collect and disseminate information for the public interest.”

“Free communication information and ideas about public and political problems between citizens, candidates and selected representatives are very important. This implies a free press and other media that can comment on public problems without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.”