The Voice of America (VOA) Hausa-language service has ceased operations in Nigeria and other West African nations due to funding cuts initiated by the Trump administration.
This development has left millions of listeners, particularly in northern Nigeria, without access to a trusted international news source.
Listeners in northern Nigeria first noticed the disruption when scheduled broadcasts were replaced with music, leading to widespread concern.
A check by Pilot News on the VOA Hausa website, which had regular updates, revealed that updates stopped on 15 March.
Babangida Jibrin, a former VOA journalist, reported that people began calling in, worried about a coup in America.
“People started calling in, worried that there had been a coup in America,” said Jibrin. “It felt like someone turned off the world.”
The abrupt cessation of the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa service has elicited profound reactions from its dedicated audience in northern Nigeria.
Musa Ayuba, a devoted listener from Katsina State, expressed his dismay, stating that he no longer hears from them and has always enjoyed their stories.
“Now I don’t hear from them again. I have always enjoyed their stories. And you know they can get our elites to speak to them even if our local stations can’t get them,” he said.
On 21 January 2025, the Voice of America (VOA) marked 46 years of broadcasting its Hausa service, earning commendation from many Nigerians for its longstanding impact.
Among those who paid tribute was Pastor Dr Yohanna Buru, founder of Nigeria’s Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation. He expressed deep gratitude for the station’s contributions, particularly to northern Nigeria over the decades.
“For the past 35 years, I have been faithfully tuning in to their morning, afternoon, and evening news, which has greatly enriched my understanding of the world around me,” he said.
Pastor Buru also commended specific programmes like ‘Tsaka-mai-wuya’ and ‘Ilmi Tushen Rayuwa’ for their educational value to millions of Hausa-speaking listeners across West Africa.
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