Dare Babalola
The Minister of Information and National Orientation has called for calm concerning the suspension of Badegi FM, a radio station in Minna, the Niger State capital.
This was contained in a statement on Saturday by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, who said the ministry has taken note of concerns raised by various stakeholders in the media space.
Recall that Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State had earlier directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to shut down the radio station over allegations of unethical broadcasting and incitement against the government.
This directive sparked diverse reactions from stakeholders in the country’s media industry, who accused the governor of abuse of power.
Reacting, the minister directed the governor to report the allegations to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for proper action.
The statement read partly, “While acknowledging the concerns raised, the Ministry notes that the suspension of broadcasting licenses falls within the purview of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as stipulated by law. In light of this, the Ministry welcomes the decision of the Niger State Government to formally report the perceived ‘unethical behavior’ of Badegi FM to the NBC for resolution.
“The Minister appeals to all parties to remain calm, assuring that the NBC has the necessary mechanisms to resolve the issue in a fair and impartial manner.”
