Niger Govt defends closure of Badeggi FM.

The Niger State Government has denied allegations that Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago's order to close Baddegi FM radio station was politically motivated. 

The Special Adviser to the governor on communication media and strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, in a statement issued in Minna on Wednesday, justified the closure, claiming that the station's content amounts to incitement.

Reaffirming Governor Bago's confidence in his achievements, Vatsa said that he is not afraid of a 2027 contest, as he has never lost an election since 2007.

Meanwhile, stakeholders, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the International Press Institute (IPI) and SERAP have criticized the governor's directive, questioning his constitutional power to order the closure. 

Also, the station's General Manager, Aisha Badeggi, challenged the governor to provide evidence of incitement, suggesting that the closure might be due to an interview with a former FIRS chairman who hinted at the governor's potential 2027 ambitions.

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