Last month, listeners in northern Nigeria tuning into Voice of America (VOA) were met with music instead of their usual programming, sparking confusion and concern. Many wondered if there had been a coup in the United States, as the US-funded station abruptly went off the air on a Friday. VOA journalist Babangida Jibrin recalled receiving numerous worried calls from listeners, signaling a historic disruption.
The closure of VOA’s Hausa-language service, once a vital source of international news for millions across West Africa, is a direct result of funding cuts made during Donald Trump’s presidency. The Hausa service, based in Nigeria, had reached audiences in rural areas of Ghana, Niger, and Cameroon, where access to print media is limited and internet connectivity remains unreliable. “People are now cut off from news, especially international news,” said Moussa Jaharou, a listener from southern Niger. The service provided not only daily news but also critical health information on diseases like HIV and malaria, which is now unavailable to many.
VOA, founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, grew significantly during the Cold War. While funded by the US government, it was known for its balanced, professional journalism in Nigeria. However, during Trump’s presidency, accusations of politicization arose, leading to significant budget cuts and eventually the shutdown of the Hausa service.
While the closure is a major setback for Hausa-language media, which serves around 80 million speakers, it is not the end. However, VOA’s extensive network of local stringers provided trusted information to hard-to-reach rural areas, offering an independent perspective not always available from local outlets influenced by political or business interests. “It’s really, really a shame,” said Sadibou Marong, West Africa chief at Reporters Without Borders, noting VOA’s coverage in volatile regions affected by armed groups, where other journalists were pressured to toe the military line.
The closure is being contested in a US court, and it comes at a time when global press freedom is facing growing challenges. For example, Radio France Internationale (RFI) has been banned in Niger, including its Hausa broadcasts, and the BBC faced a three-month suspension in the country.
VOA’s impact in northern Nigeria dates back to 1944, when British authorities established radio stations to reach populations with low English literacy. VOA Hausa, founded in 1979, built on this legacy, broadcasting on local stations and reaching millions in isolated areas. Nigerian listener Muhammad Mukhtar, a long-time VOA fan, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “I still have not come to terms with this shocking reality,” he said, lamenting the end of in-depth programming on topics like health, religion, and political debates such as the flagship “Hot Seat.”
Former reporter Alhassan Bala recalled VOA’s solutions-based journalism, including a feature on a Kaduna inventor using drones to detect crop diseases, and stories that prompted government investigations, such as one on heavy metal exposure from mining in Zamfara State. The shutdown has also led to job losses for many journalists who dedicated years to the service. Jibrin, who reported during Nigeria’s Sani Abacha dictatorship, recalled the dangers of working in the field, and his emotional reaction to the closure was palpable. “There are places we used to go where they would address us as CIA agents,” he said, wiping away tears. “So now, who will have the last laugh?”
Bala, now running a Hausa fact-checking site called Alkalanci, was devastated by the news. “I just said, ‘Oh my God.’ This is bad,” he said, before turning back to his work, feeling even more committed to the importance of fact-checking in this new media landscape.