By Our Correspondent
The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has ordered an immediate halt to the indiscriminate felling of trees within the premises of Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), describing the practice as contrary to the state government’s environmental protection and climate change policies.
He gave the directive during an unscheduled visit to the state-owned television station following a viral video showing workers cutting down trees within the station’s premises.
Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya warned that henceforth, no tree should be felled without official approval and consultation with relevant government agencies responsible for environmental management.
The commissioner expressed concern over the environmental consequences of deforestation, noting that the depletion of natural resources such as trees poses serious threats to sustainable development and should not be encouraged.
Speaking on the operations of the station, Waiya said findings from an assessment indicated that ARTV had fallen short of viewers’ expectations due to outdated content and poor-quality news production.
According to him, while many modern television stations have embraced digital platforms that allow real-time engagement and on-demand viewing, ARTV remains largely conservative in its operations, limiting its competitiveness within the broadcasting industry.
Comrade Abdullahi Waiya said the situation runs contrary to the vision of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, which prioritises digital transformation and modern operational practices across all sectors.
The commissioner urged the management of the station to make effective use of its annual budget for transformative projects, particularly in the areas of staff training and capacity development.
He also pledged to submit a special report to Governor Yusuf seeking intervention for a comprehensive digital upgrade of the station to enable it compete favourably with its counterparts across the country.
Waiya further charged the management to uphold transparency and accountability in resource utilisation and personnel management.
Earlier, the Deputy Managing Director of ARTV, Malam Idris Abba Musa, said the station was facing several operational challenges, including bureaucratic bottlenecks, inadequate staff training and the need for improved digitisation of its facilities.
The commissioner’s visit comes amid growing calls for reforms and modernisation of public broadcasting institutions in the state.
