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Gagging the Media? NUJ Warns Niger Government Over Crackdown on Independent Station
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the Niger State Government’s threat to shut down Badeggi FM 90.1 and demolish the station’s premises.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
PUNCH Online earlier reported that the privately owned radio station, located in Minna, has come under pressure from the administration of Governor Umaru Bago.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by NUJ National President, Alhassan Abdullahi, the union described the move as “a blatant act of intimidation and a direct assault on press freedom.”
“The threats against Badeggi FM 90.1 by the Niger State Government are deeply disturbing and reflect a dangerous abuse of executive power,” Abdullahi said. “Such actions erode democratic values and send a chilling message to independent media organisations.”
The NUJ reminded the state government that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the only statutory body authorised to license, regulate, and sanction broadcast stations in Nigeria.
“No state government has the constitutional authority to interfere with the operations or physical infrastructure of any media outlet. Any allegation of misconduct must be addressed through the NBC, following due process,” the NUJ president added.
The union emphasized that freedom of the press is a constitutional right and vital to the health of Nigeria’s democracy.
“Independent journalism must not be silenced through threats, intimidation, or politically motivated actions. We call on Governor Bago to immediately withdraw the threats of closure and demolition, and to allow any grievances to be handled through the proper legal channels,” Abdullahi said.
The NUJ further urged civil society organisations, professional bodies, and the general public to resist all forms of executive overreach that threaten press freedom.
“We will not sit idly by while journalists and media establishments are harassed for fulfilling their duty,” Abdullahi concluded.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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