Amnesty International condemns closure of Niger radio station

Amnesty International has condemned the order issued by the Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago, directing the closure of Badeggi 90.1 FM Radio in Minna.

The human rights organisation said the allegation that the radio station was “inciting violence” and the subsequent directive to revoke its licence represent an abuse of power.

In a statement on Saturday by the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, the organisation said the order for the closure of the radio station is misguided and unjustifiable.

Sanusi criticised the state government’s focus on media clampdown amid worsening insecurity in the region, including killings and mass displacement by armed groups.

He said, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the lawless and repressive order issued yesterday by Governor Umar Bago of Niger State for the closure of Badeggi 90.1 FM Radio Minna – which is an independent sources of news for the people of Niger state.

“The governor’s allegation against the radio station of ‘inciting violence’ and his order that ‘the licence of the dadio station be revoked’ clearly show abuse of power and unacceptable intolerance of critical voices. The order for the closure of the radio station is misguided and unjustifiable.”

He called on Bago to immediately withdraw the order, stating that under Nigerian law, state governors lack the authority to shut down broadcast stations.

Sanusi said, “While bandits and insurgents are ravaging the Niger state through killings and massive displacements of rural communities, with both the Federal Government and Niger State failing to protect lives, pointing accusing fingers at a radio station clearly shows a failure of leadership.

“Attacking Badeggi 90.1 FM is part of a wider pattern of attempts to create climate of fear across newsrooms in Nigeria and to make it harder for journalists to do their job.

“Governor Bago must immediately withdraw his unlawful order. “Under Nigerian laws, the governor has no power to order the closure of a radio station. Choosing to bizarrely blame a radio station for the inexcusable security failures of the government is an open attack on media freedom.

“Targeting independent media is solely aimed at depriving the people of the opportunity to receive fair and objective reporting of issues affecting their lives.”

Source : Punch