Kano Government Halts Tree Felling at State TV Station Following Viral Footage

The Kano State Government has swiftly intervened to stop the unchecked cutting of trees within the premises of the Abubakar Rimi Television station. This decisive action was taken after a video showing the felling of trees at the facility went viral. Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, issued the directive during an unscheduled visit to the station on Saturday. The commissioner's visit was prompted by the disturbing video, which raised concerns about the station's adherence to environmental protection and climate change policies. Waiya emphasized that any future decision to cut down trees within the station must receive official approval after due consultation with relevant government agencies. He expressed concern over the depletion of natural resources, stating that it poses serious environmental consequences. The commissioner noted that the practice of cutting down trees without approval is contrary to the state government's policy on climate change and environmental sustainability. 'I was disturbed by the viral video showing the indiscriminate felling of trees within the premises of ARTV. This action is contrary to the government's policy on climate change and environmental sustainability. From now on, no tree should be cut within the station without obtaining the necessary approval and consulting the appropriate government agencies,' the commissioner stated. Waiya also raised concerns over the operational performance of the television station, saying findings had shown that ARTV was struggling to meet viewers' expectations due to outdated content and poor-quality news production. According to him, the station has failed to keep pace with the evolving media landscape, where audiences increasingly demand real-time engagement and digital accessibility. The commissioner disclosed that he would submit a special report to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf seeking intervention for a comprehensive upgrade of the station. 'I will present a special report to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, with a view to securing intervention that will drive the digital transformation of ARTV and position it to compete favourably with other television stations in Nigeria,' he added. Waiya further urged the management of the station to embrace transparency, accountability and prudent management of resources while prioritising staff training and capacity building. The Deputy Managing Director of ARTV, Idris Musa, acknowledged that the organisation was facing several operational challenges, including bureaucratic bottlenecks, inadequate staff training and insufficient digital infrastructure. He expressed optimism that the proposed government intervention would help reposition the station for improved service delivery and competitiveness in the broadcasting industry.