By Usman Usman Garba
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has submitted a detailed memorandum to the Senate Committee on Information as part of the ongoing review of the National Broadcasting Commission Act.
The memorandum, according to the governor, seeks sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s broadcasting regulatory framework, particularly in the areas of online media regulation, ethical standards, and protection of journalists.
Yusuf, who was represented by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, disclosed this on Saturday at the 2nd Annual National Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters held in Kano.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, said the memo was developed after wide consultations with media professionals, legal experts and civil society.
According to the governor, the document addresses challenges posed by misinformation, unethical broadcasting and unregulated online content, especially in political and religious messaging.
“At the 2025 Africa Summit in Lagos, His Excellency challenged the NBC to set higher standards for censorship, review and regulation of online content that continues to shape public opinion and sometimes inflame tensions,” the statement quoted Bature as saying.
He added that the governor has now finalised the memorandum for formal presentation to the Senate Committee on Information.
The memo highlights critical areas requiring legislative strengthening, including regulation of digital broadcasting and online platforms, ethical guidelines for political and religious content, protection for journalists, adoption of global best practices in the age of artificial intelligence and stiffer penalties for harmful or unprofessional broadcasting.
Bature said the governor’s engagement reflects his commitment to building a responsible and future-ready broadcast sector.
He noted that Yusuf’s support for press freedom and media development has earned him recognitions from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Leadership Newspapers, This Nigeria Newspapers and African Heritage Magazine.
He added that the administration has also prioritised media development in the state through the 2025 and 2026 budgets, sponsorship of students for postgraduate studies abroad, and the revitalisation of three media-related institutions — the Institute of Development Journalism at ARTV headquarters, the Institute of Film Production and the Institute of Information Technology in Kura.
“These institutions are now functional and are training young Kano citizens in journalism, film, digital media and information technology,” he said.
Bature urged practitioners to uphold ethical standards, stressing that the integrity of information remains crucial to Nigeria’s unity.
He also declared the 2025 SNB Annual Conference and Induction Ceremony open on behalf of the governor.
