Kano Govt Inaugurates 18-Member Committee To Draft Media Policy

The Kano State Government has inaugurated an 18-member Media and Information Policy Drafting Committee as part of efforts to regulate information dissemination and promote accuracy in the state.

Inaugurating the committee recently, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruq, said the initiative was aimed at addressing growing concerns over unregulated information flow, particularly in the digital age.

Faruq noted that the decision to establish the committee dates back to 2023, when the administration adopted a more structured approach to governance, following recommendations by a transition committee to develop policies in critical sectors.

He explained that several policies, including those on electricity, solid minerals, women and economic empowerment, and climate change, had already been approved by the State Executive Council.

The SSG stressed that the media policy had become necessary given the increasing role of digital platforms in information dissemination.

“With the proliferation of smartphones, virtually everyone has become a journalist capable of disseminating information. This policy will go a long way in ensuring that only accurate and responsible information reaches the public,” he said.

He further revealed that the government had been interfacing with security agencies over cases of non-compliance with information dissemination guidelines by some public officials and members of the public.

“The feedback from these agencies is alarming, and there is widespread concern among citizens about the absence of clear regulations guiding information dissemination,” he added.

Faruq expressed confidence in the competence of the committee members and urged them to deploy their expertise in delivering a robust and inclusive policy framework.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee and Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, clarified that the proposed policy was not designed to stifle press freedom but to sanitise the media space.

He assured stakeholders that the committee would engage relevant actors to ensure the policy reflects global best practices while safeguarding the rights of media practitioners.