Bello Matawalle, the governor of Zamfara state, has ordered the closure of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, and three other media houses in the state.
Other affected media houses included Gamji TV, Al-Umma TV, and Pride FM Radio, all are located in Gusau, the state capital, The Punch reported.
While announcing the shutdown in a radio broadcast, Ibrahim Dosara, the state commissioner for information, stated that the media houses were shut down for alleged violations of professional ethics.
Why did Zamfara shut down NTA?
Dosara stated disclosed that the affected media houses attended the political rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while the government had banned political rallies for security reasons in the state.
His statement reads in part: “The state government has suspended all political activities in the state due to security challenges but the PDP ignored the order and held a rally in Gusau, the state capital, where one person was killed and 18 others were injured.
“The four media houses, NTA, Gamji TV, Al-Umma TV, and Pride FM radio, were also at the event to cover the occasion even though they were aware of the ban on political rallies by the state government.
