Federal Government Shuts Down Jay FM Radio Station Over Alleged Critical Elections Coverage

Yakubu Busari

In an effort to rig manipulate the forthcoming governorship election in some states, Federal Government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has shut down a private radio station, Jay FM 101.9 in Jos.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the management of the station was invited by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Information available to our medium revealed that the Federal government agencies use to  perpetuate the close down were only  targeting at the former governor Jonah David Jang to breakdown the spirit of voters not access information.

It was gathered that the security storm the station few  hours ago, the General Manager reported to the Jos office of the DSS following another invitation.

Even though the management of JayfM 101.9 is yet to disclose the content of the discussion with the DSS, the closure of the station by NBC might not to unconnected.

It was gathered  a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of JODAJ Global Communications Ltd, owners of the broadcast station, and signed by the Jos Zonal Director of NBC, Dr. Igomu Onoja on behalf of the commission’s Director General, ordered that the radio station be shut down from operations with effect from March 1, 2019 until further notice.

An announcement from the radio station in Jos on Friday night before it went off-waves confirmed the development.

It said, “The management and staff of Jay FM 101.9 regret to announce to our teeming and ever supportive listeners of the challenges we are facing from the regulatory agency that is responsible for monitoring broadcasting in Nigeria (The NBC).

“Yesterday on 28 February, 2019, operatives of the Department of State Services stormed our office and insisted that one of our senior staff follow them to their office. Today again, March 1st, the Station Manager and the Managing Director were also invited by the operatives to their office around 5 pm and have just been released around 7:30 pm.

“Few minutes after, the NBC ordered for the shutdown of the station.

“As a radio station, we have faced countless challenges. The conversation should continue on our social media platform.

“We regret that we will be shutting down until the situation is fixed; your favourite station will be shutting down immediately after this announcement. Thank you for your maximum cooperation.”

Lamenting the development, thousands of listeners, who took to the social media, condemned government’s continuous threat to freedom of information.

Efforts to reach the management of Jay FM prove abortive as the lines were unreachable.

Efforts are also being made to reach the NBC management in Jos. Jay FM 101.9 is considered an “opposition” voice which entertains opinions from all sections of the society which government sympathizers have also lashed at the station.

listeners, who took to the social media, condemned government’s continuous threat to freedom of information.