By Sanee Yarima
The International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub has condemned the illegal closure of Badegi 90.1FM by the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago.
In a statement signed by the Press Freedom Officer, IPC, Melody Akinjiyan, IPC-SPJ demanded the immediate reopening of the Radio station.
Governor Bago gave the order during an expanded meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Friday, August 1st.
According to reports, the governor’s action was in response to the station’s broadcast of alleged content critical of the state government.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, described the Governor’s action as a pure abuse of Executive powers and an abysmal display of a lack of regard for the media institution.
“Assuming without conceding that the station committed an infraction, the state Governor should have taken his grievance to any of the relevant media regulatory bodies,” Mr. Arogundade intensified.
IPC-SPJ Hub reinforces that, the media should not be gagged, regardless of the context and the content of the affected incident.
It noted that nowhere across the globe will a Governor order the closure of any media organisation.
“We are no longer in the military regime, where fear and intimidation are the order of the day.
“We operate a democratic system of government where freedom of speech, expression, and thought are fundamental, and the extent and legitimacy of the same can only be questioned in a competent court of jurisdiction.
“IPC-SPJ Hub is therefore calling for the immediate and unconditional re-opening of Badegi 90.1FM, and a total stop to the crackdown on press freedom in Nigeria, especially by duty bearers, the statement emphasized.
