Trump closes Hausa broadcast of Voice of America
The recent executive order of President Donald Trump of United States of America (USA) to effectively dismantle the America Agency for Global Media, which supervises Voice of America (VOA) has led to closure of its Hausa broadcast of the station.
Penpushing reports that the closure of the Hausa radio service in Northern Nigeria and other neighbouring countries have now forced listeners turning to other stations for their news updates after the radio station stopped transmitting.
The Trump’s order of March 15, 2025 also affected the Head of Voice of America (VOA) and all of its 1,300 journalists and staff who as at the time of filing this report had been put on administrative leave.
Penpushing further reports that the station accustomed to by Hausa listeners for news, programs and commentary is known to be operating between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until recently when it stopped transmitting.
The Voice of America (VOA) funded by United States of America (USA) government was established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, expanded during the Cold War between Russia and the Soviet Union.
Penpushing also reports that many considered it a propaganda tool, while others, however, commended the station for its journalism and diversity, and the Hausa Service was established on January 21, 1979.
Meanwhile, Hausa is primarily a West African language spoken by close to 60 million Africans in the region, while Voice of America (VOA) Hausa’s research estimates a weekly audience of 16.9 million for its programmes, and in addition to its news reports and interviews, the Hausa service had a weekly 20-radio feature for its audience.
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