Why Kano govt bars 14 journalists covering state house

The Kano State Government has withdrawn the accreditation of 14 journalists assigned to cover activities at the Government House in Kano.

The revocation was announced on Monday via a memo signed by Sanusi Bature, the spokesperson to Governor Abba Yusuf.

In the memo, Bature directed the affected media outlets to nominate replacements for the barred journalists but did not provide a reason for the sudden decision. However, some of the journalists involved hinted at disagreements with government media officials over access and privileges.

The situation escalated last week when the journalists were prohibited from covering Governor Yusuf’s condolence visit to Jigawa following a petrol tanker explosion. During the visit, they reportedly clashed with security personnel at the Jigawa Government House, who attempted to limit their coverage of the governor’s meeting with Jigawa’s Governor Umar Namadi.

Sources revealed that tensions rose further when some of the journalists later met with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, during his visit to Kano for a religious event, reportedly without prior clearance from Kano State’s media managers.

The revocation affects various senior members of the media, including directors, producers, and cameramen from both government-owned and private outlets.

This decision has drawn criticism and raised questions about press freedom and transparency within the Kano State Government. As of now, the administration has yet to provide an official explanation for the action.