…Threatens nationwide boycott
Aminu Imam
The Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, (IBAN), has issued a scathing condemnation of Niger State governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, following the reported shutdown of Baddegi FM, a privately owned radio station, in what it describes as an “unlawful and undemocratic” action executed by force.
In a press statement released on Sunday, IBAN decried the governor’s alleged use of military personnel to seal off the licensed station without recourse to legal or regulatory procedures. The association called the move “high-handed,” warning that it amounts to a direct assault on press freedom and Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, Chairman of IBAN, said: “This action, allegedly carried out by military fiat and outside the bounds of due process, is a flagrant violation of press freedom and the rule of law. It sets a dangerous precedent for the arbitrary use of power against the media”.
IBAN reiterated that the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), remains the only body legally empowered to sanction or revoke broadcasting licenses in Nigeria. It called for the immediate re-opening of Baddegi FM, and urged Governor Bago to channel any grievances through established regulatory or judicial means.
The statement aligns IBAN with the Federal Government’s stance on the matter, particularly the condemnation expressed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who had earlier criticised the station’s closure.
In a stern warning, IBAN declared it would not tolerate such “Executive overreach”, and hinted at a broader pushback if the shutdown is not reversed.
“Should the Governor fail to reverse this unlawful directive, IBAN may be forced to call for a boycott of the activities of the Niger State government by all private broadcast stations in Nigeria”, the statement added.
The association also called on all Nigerians to stand in defense of press freedom and democratic governance, reminding public officials that “the media is not an enemy of the state—it is a cornerstone of democracy”.
The shutdown of Baddegi FM has sparked growing concern among civil society groups, with many warning that any erosion of media independence threatens national stability and accountability.
