Former Commissioner for Information in Kano State and President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Muhammad Garba, has urged the Kano State government to embrace press freedom.

Garba disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

His comment follows a report by 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.

However, the Kano State government had dismissed the report.

Reacting, Garba said the media is not an enemy of the government but a partner in nation-building.

He condemned the government’s restrictive media directives, including bans on live political programmes and warnings against asking what it termed “provocative questions.”

Garba argued that such policies amount to censorship and undermine democratic governance.

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

“The media is not an enemy of government; it is a partner in nation-building.

“Respecting press freedom is not only a constitutional obligation but also a mark of mature and responsive leadership,” he stated.

Media not an enemy – Garba tells Kano Govt to embrace press freedom