Kano SSG Urges Journalists to Highlight Developmental Projects Ahead of 2027 Elections

By Ladan Muhammad Nasidi

The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Farouk, has urged journalists to give sustained attention to the developmental projects and programmes of the Kano State Government while maintaining professional independence and constructive criticism.

Farouk made the call in a speech delivered by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Mustapha Mohammad, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 retreat of the Kano Correspondents Chapel held in Kaduna.

Speaking on the theme, “Why Journalists Should Tell the Story of Kano State Government’s Developmental Strides,” the SSG said journalists had a strategic role to play in informing citizens, holding public institutions accountable and communicating government policies and achievements.

He said the role of the media was particularly important in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging journalists to balance robust scrutiny with responsible reporting.

“Members of Kano Correspondents should be able to tell the story of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the physical growth presently unfolding across the state. No doubt, Kano is working under Abba Gida Gida,” he said.

According to him, development journalism should not be mistaken for government propaganda, but should involve investigating policies, projects and interventions and assessing their impact on citizens.

“Where the government constructs roads, schools, hospitals, water facilities, markets or other public infrastructure, journalists should go beyond simply reporting the commissioning ceremony. They should investigate the project’s impact, quality, beneficiaries and implementation timeline,” Farouk stated.

He listed education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, women’s development, employment, environmental protection, infrastructure and social investment among areas receiving attention under the present administration.

The SSG, however, stressed that journalists should continue to remind government of citizens’ needs through constructive criticism.

On the 2027 elections, Farouk warned against sensational and inflammatory reporting, noting that careless journalism could deepen political tension and misinformation.

“Election reporting should be guided by accuracy, fairness, impartiality, balance and the public interest,” he said.

He urged journalists to avoid amplifying statements capable of provoking violence or worsening ethnic, religious, regional and political divisions.

“Election will come and go; our beloved city of Kano will remain,” Farouk said, calling on the media to promote peace and democratic participation before, during and after the elections.

He also commended the Kano Correspondents Chapel for organising the retreat and urged sustained collaboration between the state government and the media in the public interest.