By Hadiza Abdulkadir
The Kano State Government has imposed an immediate ban on all live political programmes aired by media organisations in the state.
As Kano Times online news media reported, the decision was announced during a quarterly stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs. The meeting, chaired by the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, brought together government officials and media executives.
In a statement signed by Sani Abba Yola, Director of Special Duties at the ministry, the ban aims to prevent the spread of inflammatory content that could jeopardise the state’s cultural and religious harmony.
“We are not trying to stifle political dissent,” Comrade Waiya told the gathering. “Our objective is to protect the sanctity of our cultural and religious values.”
Further measures were introduced during the meeting. All individuals invited for interviews on media platforms must now sign an undertaking committing to avoid abusive, defamatory, or culturally insensitive remarks.
Presenters have also been directed to avoid provocative questions or gestures that might provoke defamatory or damaging statements against individuals or the state.
Waiya acknowledged a recent decline in the use of inflammatory language on air, crediting the ongoing collaboration between the ministry and media houses for the improvement.
He also disclosed that the government has rolled out sensitisation campaigns targeting political presenters, media commentators, and members of the Council of Friday Imams to promote responsible public discourse.
“We want to ensure that all public communication is done with integrity—free of defamation and in a way that protects the reputation of Kano State,” Waiya said.