The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has condemned the “unlawful suspension” of Badegi 90.1 FM, an independent radio station operating in Minna, Niger State.

The closure was reportedly ordered by the state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, during an expanded meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on August 1, allegedly in response to the station’s broadcast of content critical of the administration.

In a statement jointly signed by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi, IPI Nigeria described the action as “yet another crackdown on freedom of expression and media freedom by the current administration in Niger State under Governor Bago.”

The institute condemned the ‘arbitrary’ suspension as a grave violation of press freedom and an assault on democratic norms.

IPI Nigeria recalled previous troubling incidents that point to a growing pattern of repression against the press under Governor Bago’s leadership.

In January 2025, Yakubu Mustapha, the Niger State correspondent for Peoples Daily and Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), was detained for three days after allegedly circulating an article critical of the governor’s media adviser.

Similarly, in November 2023, Mustapha Nasiru Batsari, the Niger State correspondent of the Voice of America (VOA), was reportedly assaulted by a commissioner in Governor Bago’s cabinet after requesting an interview regarding a violent clash between farmers in Beji, Bosso Local Council.

The body reminded Bago that his actions represent a blatant abuse of power and are incompatible with the rights enshrined in Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee freedom of expression, the right to information, and press freedom.

ALSO, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) condemned the action.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim, in a statement, said his boss gave the directive to close the privately-owned radio station, revoke its licence, and profile its owner.

Following the directive, the state government has also marked the building housing the radio station and its management for demolition.

The CJID views this “rather worrisome order as an act of executive overreach and an outright abuse of state powers.”