Outcry as Governor Bago Orders Demolition of Badeggi FM Building

Human Rights Organisations, Amnesty International, has condemned a move by Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, to demolish the building housing Badeggi FM 90.1, a popular radio station in Minna.

According to the Organisation on Saturday, the station was marked for demolition by a government squad allegedly acting under the governor’s orders.

Amnesty International described the action as an “unlawful and repressive move,” asserting that it violates press freedom and falls outside the legal powers of a state governor.

“Under Nigerian laws, the governor has no power to order the closure of a radio station,” the organisation stated.

The demolition order reportedly comes in response to criticisms Badeggi FM aired concerning the state’s worsening insecurity.

Governor Bago is said to have blamed the station for contributing to public unrest, a claim Amnesty International called “misguided and repressive.”

“Choosing to bizarrely blame a radio station for the inexcusable security failures of the government is an open attack on media freedom,” the statement continued.

The rights group is now calling on Governor Bago to immediately rescind the demolition order and respect the constitutional protections guaranteed to the press under Nigerian law.

As of the time of this report, neither the Niger State Government nor Badeggi FM has issued an official statement.