Former Kano State Commissioner for Information and President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Muhammad Garba, urged the Kano State government to embrace press freedom in a statement released on Sunday.
Garba’s comments were prompted by a report from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), which ranked Kano among the top three Nigerian states with the most violations of press freedom in 2024—a report the Kano State government had dismissed.
Reacting to the situation, Garba condemned the government’s restrictive media directives, which include bans on live political programs and warnings against asking what it deemed “provocative questions.” He asserted that such policies constitute censorship and undermine democratic governance.
He emphasized that “Freedom of the press is measured not by plaques or ceremonies, but by the ability of journalists to report without fear of reprisal.” Garba stressed that the media should be seen as a “partner in nation-building,” not an enemy, and that respecting press freedom is a “mark of mature and responsive leadership.”
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