In brazen move, Kano govt gags journalists, sets new interview rules

The Kano state government has banned live political broadcasts and introduced new restrictions on journalists, in what media observers have described as a brazen attempt to stifle press freedom.

The directive, announced after a quarterly meeting between state officials and media executives, requires anyone appearing on radio or television interviews in Kano to sign an undertaking to avoid “abusive, defamatory, or culturally offensive remarks.” Journalists, too, are banned from asking “provocative questions” or using gestures that could trigger such statements.

“A ban has been placed on live political programmes across media outlets to prevent the spread of inflammatory content,” said Sani Abba Yola, director of special duties at the Ministry of Information, in a statement released Wednesday.

The meeting, chaired by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, was framed by the government as an effort to “safeguard Kano’s cultural and religious values” and “curb unethical content.” Waiya insisted the move was not aimed at political opposition but at promoting responsible journalism.

However, media rights advocates and journalists say the action raises serious concerns. While the Nigerian government has had a poor record on press freedom in recent years—ranking 112 out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index – outright bans on live political programming and restrictions on the content of interviews are rare and alarming.

The government said media executives at the meeting pledged their cooperation.

Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press, but enforcement is weak. Journalists have increasingly faced arrests, intimidation, and regulatory overreach, especially in the last few years.