KANO SSG CHARGES JOURNALISTS TO DOCUMENT GOVERNMENT’S DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, PROMOTE PEACE AHEAD OF 2027 POLLS
Kaduna – September 13, 2026 – The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Faruk Ibrahim, has urged journalists to give sustained attention to the developmental efforts of the Kano State Government while maintaining their constitutional responsibility of holding public institutions accountable.
Ibrahim made the call while addressing the 2026 retreat of the Kano Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, held from September 11 to 14, 2026, at Pyramaid Hotel, Kaduna.
The retreat, with the theme “2027 General Elections: Navigating Legal, Security and Ethical Challenges in the Media,” brought together journalists, political analysts, election stakeholders and other personalities to deliberate on the role of the media in the forthcoming general elections and democratic development.
Represented by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustafa Muhammad, the SSG said journalists occupied a strategic position in shaping society, stressing that their responsibility went beyond reporting events to informing citizens, holding public institutions accountable and providing credible platforms for communicating government policies and programmes.
Speaking on “Why Journalists Should Tell the Story of Kano State Government’s Developmental Efforts,” Ibrahim said the topic was relevant at a time Kano State was witnessing significant developmental activities under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He urged members of the chapel to document and report the physical and socio-economic transformation taking place across the state, noting that citizens had the right to know how public resources were being utilised.
According to him, development journalism should not be mistaken for government propaganda, but should involve independent identification, investigation and reporting of policies and projects with measurable consequences for citizens.
He urged journalists to go beyond reporting the commissioning of infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals, water facilities and markets, and investigate their quality, implementation, beneficiaries, timelines and impact on communities.
Ibrahim cited interventions in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, women development, employment, environmental protection, infrastructure and social investment as areas deserving sustained media attention.
He, however, emphasised that highlighting developmental achievements should not prevent the media from drawing government’s attention to the needs and concerns of citizens.
“That does not mean we would not remind the government of the needs and concerns of the people. It is called constructive criticism. This is how journalism can contribute meaningfully to development,” he said.
The SSG charged the media to maintain a balance between constructive scrutiny of government and responsible reporting that recognises genuine developmental efforts, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
He said Kano, being one of Nigeria’s most populous and politically active states, would attract considerable attention during the elections, with political competition likely to generate strong emotions and the risk of misinformation.
He therefore urged journalists to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, impartiality, balance and public interest in their election coverage.
Ibrahim cautioned against the publication or amplification of materials capable of inflaming ethnic, religious, regional or political divisions, stressing that journalists should exercise care when reporting allegations, campaign speeches and clashes involving political supporters.
He said sensationalism should not be allowed to take precedence over the responsibility of the media to protect peace and democratic participation.
“Election will come and go, but our beloved city of Kano will remain,” he said, urging journalists to contribute to an atmosphere of peace and harmony irrespective of political differences.
Also speaking, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Ahmad Maiyaki, described the retreat as timely, particularly with the 2027 general elections approaching, and stressed the need for journalists to play a constructive role in shaping public discourse.
Maiyaki expressed optimism that if Kano got its political and media processes right, the forthcoming elections could contribute to building a better Nigeria.
The retreat featured presentations by online media practitioner Abdullatif Abubakar Jos, Barrister Yusuf Abdulsalam and a representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, among others.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of the NUJ, AbdulGafar Alabelewe; Special Adviser to Governor Yusuf on Social Media, Ibrahim Adam; and the Chairman of the Kano State Council of the NUJ, Mustafa Gambo Muhammad.
The Kano Correspondents Chapel was commended for organising the retreat, which provided an opportunity for journalists to reflect on their professional responsibilities ahead of the elections.
Ibrahim reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the Kano State Government and the media in the public interest, urging journalists to remain professional and committed to reporting issues that promote development, accountability, peace and democratic progress.
