Garba to Kano Govt : Uphold press freedom, engage media with openness

Former Kano State Commissioner for Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Muhammad Garba, has urged the state government to embrace tolerance, accountability, and constructive engagement with the media rather than dismissing the recent report by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).

Garba’s remarks come amid ongoing criticism of the Kano State Government from both local and international media rights organizations.

The latest report from the WSCIJ, a respected non-profit group that promotes social justice through investigative journalism, listed Kano among the top three Nigerian states with the highest number of press freedom violations in 2024.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Garba, a former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),  said genuine collaboration between government and the media would promote transparency, enhance the flow of accurate information, and deepen citizens’ understanding of government policies.

According to him, a government confident enough to engage the press constructively “demonstrates both strength and accountability.”

“Freedom of the press is measured not by plaques or ceremonies, but by the ability of journalists to report without fear of reprisal,” he emphasized.

The former Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman added that open communication and mutual respect between the state and journalists would build trust, strengthen public confidence, and enhance the credibility of government communications.

He described as contradictory the government’s claim of promoting free speech while allegedly using state institutions to intimidate journalists and silence dissent.

“The media is not an enemy of government; it is a partner in nation-building,” Garba said. “Respecting press freedom is not only a constitutional obligation but also a mark of mature and responsive leadership.”

Garba expressed concern that, despite the government’s dismissal of the WSCIJ report as “misleading and malicious,” the increasing record of arrests, intimidation, and restrictive media policies paints a troubling picture of repression.

He cited several incidents, including the state government’s directive to the police to investigate Daily Nigerian publisher Jafar Jaafar following a corruption report involving a senior government official; the arrest and detention of Dan’uwa Rano TV founder Ibrahim Ishaq Dan’uwa over a similar report; the detention of Kano Times reporters Buhari Rano and Ismail Auwal; and the arrest of Abdulaziz Aliyu of Waraka Online TV for publishing critical stories.

He also recalled the August 2024 attack on a Channels Television crew bus by machete-wielding assailants during a protest in Kano.

Beyond these actions, Garba faulted the government’s restrictive media directives, including bans on live political programmes and warnings against “provocative questions,” describing such measures as censorship that undermines democratic governance.

Garba, who serves on the steering committee of the International Forum on Ethical Journalism, called on Governor Yusuf’s administration to reverse the trend and adopt a media-friendly approach that guarantees journalists’ safety and freedom.

He said democracy can only flourish in an environment where government and the media operate in synergy rather than hostility.