SERAP Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Niger Governor Over Badeggi FM Shutdown
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has fired off a bold 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, demanding the immediate reversal of his administration’s decision to shut down Badeggi FM—a privately owned radio station based in Minna.
In a strongly worded open letter dated August 2 and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP decried the closure as “arbitrary, unlawful, and a blatant attack on press freedom.” The organization called on Governor Bago to urgently reinstate the station’s broadcast licence, withdraw threats to demolish its premises, and halt what it described as a dangerous campaign against freedom of expression in the state.
SERAP didn’t stop there. The organization also demanded an immediate end to the reported harassment of Badeggi FM’s owner, Shuaibu Badeggi, and his staff, insisting on public guarantees for their safety and civil liberties.
“Silencing dissenting voices under the pretense of vague national security claims is not only unconstitutional—it’s a betrayal of your oath of office and Nigeria’s international human rights commitments,” SERAP stated.
The controversy erupted last Friday when Governor Bago ordered the shutdown of Badeggi FM, citing alleged “unethical” broadcasts and incitement. The directive included an instruction to revoke the station’s licence and to have the Commissioner of Homeland Security “profile” its owner. He also reportedly threatened to demolish the station’s premises.
Defending his actions during an APC caucus meeting in Minna, Bago accused the station of inciting the public and undermining his administration’s “New Niger Development Agenda.” He warned that press freedom should not come at the cost of peace and governance.
In response, SERAP dismissed the governor’s claims as “vague, unsubstantiated, and deeply troubling,” warning that such heavy-handed measures could have a chilling effect on media freedom across Nigeria—especially as the 2027 general elections draw closer.
“The shutdown, licence revocation, demolition threats, and profiling of the station’s owner all stand in stark violation of Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations,” SERAP said. “If our demands are not met within 48 hours, we will pursue every available legal avenue to ensure accountability.”
The organization further emphasized that restrictions on the press must meet legal tests of necessity and proportionality—criteria Bago’s actions, it said, clearly fail.
“Invoking national security to justify silencing a media outlet is both legally flimsy and democratically dangerous,” the letter warned. “Freedom of the press is not just for journalists; it is essential to the public’s right to know.”
SERAP also raised concerns that the move signals a broader trend of media repression in Niger State and beyond, with rising cases of intimidation and harassment targeting independent voices.
Adding legal firepower to the backlash, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) joined the fray, describing the shutdown as “executive rascality of the highest order.” NBA President Afam Osigwe emphasized that only the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the legal authority to revoke broadcast licences—not state governors. He urged law enforcement agencies to disregard any directives that contravene constitutional rights.
As tensions rise and pressure mounts, all eyes now turn to Governor Bago—and the clock is ticking.