Kano Disagrees With Wole Soyinka Centre Over Press Ranking

KANO — The Kano State Government has strongly rejected a recent report by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), which ranked the state among Nigeria’s top three violators of press freedom.

Reacting to the report titled “Shrinking Freedoms: 2024 Journalism and Civic Space Status Report”, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Baba Halilu Dantiye Waiya, described the publication as a baseless and misleading assessment that does not reflect the true situation of media practice in Kano.

“The report is nothing more than the imagination of some armchair analysts masquerading under the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism,” Waiya said.

According to him, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has maintained one of the most open, media-friendly, and journalist-supportive environments in the country.

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“The government of His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, categorically rejects this claim in its entirety. Kano remains one of the most accessible and media-supportive states in Nigeria,” he stated.

Waiya highlighted that Governor Yusuf’s cordial relationship with journalists has earned him multiple awards as Nigeria’s Most Media-Friendly Governor from at least five reputable media organizations within his first two years in office.

He noted that these recognitions reflect the governor’s open-door policy, respect for press freedom, and commitment to constitutional rights of free expression.

“The Kano State Government is also working toward domesticating the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in the state as part of efforts to enhance access to information, transparency, and accountability,” Waiya added.

The commissioner further recalled that during the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) 70th Anniversary in June 2025, Governor Yusuf was again honoured as the Most Media-Friendly Governor in Nigeria, reinforcing his national reputation as a leader who values press freedom and supports journalistic excellence.

In line with its commitment to civic engagement, Waiya said Kano recently hosted the first Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Conference, organized through the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, to foster dialogue between government and civil society on governance and accountability.

He also pointed out that the state maintains strong partnerships with CSOs across various sectors, including health, planning, and information, emphasizing collaborative governance and citizen participation.

“Kano remains the only state where civil society groups were freely allowed to organize and conduct a ‘Bad Governance’ protest without intimidation. In an unprecedented gesture, Governor Yusuf personally received the protesters, listened to their concerns, and assured them of his administration’s commitment to accountability and good governance,” Waiya said.

The commissioner argued that such openness contradicts the WSCIJ’s classification, insisting that Kano cannot, by any credible measure, be considered a violator of press freedom.

“We urge the Wole Soyinka Centre and similar bodies to verify their data and conduct field assessments before releasing reports that misrepresent progressive states like Kano. Any claim to the contrary is mischievous, malicious, and misleading,” he said.

Waiya reaffirmed that the Kano State Government would continue to uphold freedom of expression, responsible journalism, and open dialogue as core principles of democracy and good governance.