The Price of Political Dissent: Niger Governor Shuts Down Radio Station

In a country where the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions, and the freedom to receive and impart information without interference, is enshrined in the constitution, it surprisingly seems like there is a cost to dissent.

On Sunday, it was disclosed that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors filed a suit against the Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the “ongoing intimidation” of Badeggi FM Radio situated in Minna. 

Governor Umar Bago ordered that the independent media outlet be shut down on the 2nd of August 2025, requesting that the license of the radio station be confiscated, and that the owner be profiled. The governor had accused the owner of the radio station of “incitement of the people against the government.” He described the conduct of the radio station as “unprofessional” and a stark contrast to the administration’s effort under the “New Niger Development Agenda.” In response,  the station’s General Manager, Aisha Badeggi,  suggested that the governor’s reaction emanated from an interview with Mallam Mohammed Mamman Nani, who previously served as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), where he evaluated the administration’s performance. 

While the Special Adviser on Communication Media and Strategy to the Governor, Jonathan Vasta, revealed that the governor is undismayed by any potential election in 2027, the refusal of the state governor to back down despite outrage from reputable organizations says otherwise. 

In a similar vein, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, recently influenced the suspension of Godfrey Chikwere, the acting General Manager at Legacy FM (The Sound of Now), a privately-owned radio station. It was reported that the suspension followed  his alleged persistent “negative” comments about the state’s administration and the governor’s policies during radio broadcasts and on social media. Godfrey Chikwere had urged the governor to be more proactive in handling state affairs, requesting that the governor “step on his toes” and highlighting areas where the administration was said to have underperformed. 

Announcing his suspension, Legacy FM stated that the acting General Manager had behaved “unruly” and disobeyed the code of conduct guiding the Legacy FM.” Signalling the possible interference of the state, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor, accused Godfrey of ingratitude. Expressing his displeasure, Uzor said, “It is regrettable that despite the radio station thriving only on government support, the supposed helmsman dedicates a greater percentage of the station’s airtime to attack and run down the government whose support has kept the medium afloat. For the avoidance of doubt, the governor gifted the medium a brand new Changan SUV, donated a brand new transformer that powers that station, and constructed the road leading to the broadcasting house.” Uzor further described Godfrey’s criticisms as “derogatory and inciting” and accused the radio personality of “overstepping his bounds.”

What does the law say? 

Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. The President of  the National Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, also condemned the action of Governor Umar Bago, reiterating that his actions against the media outlet were an “abuse of power that undermines constitutional democracy and the rule of law.”  Mr. Osigwe emphasized that the governor acted ultra vires since the authority to revoke broadcast licences or shut down any media establishment resides with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Both incidents reflect a creeping pattern where political leaders move to silence dissent rather than engage with it. If arbitrary state actions against the media continue unchecked, Nigerian journalists may soon find themselves operating under the constant threat of suspension for daring to disagree.