Kano State Government has ordered an immediate stop to the indiscriminate felling of trees within the premises of the state-owned television station, Abubakar Rimi Television, following a viral video showing the cutting of trees at the facility.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, during an unscheduled visit to the station on Saturday.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Information, Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Ameen Yassar.
The statement said the practice was contrary to the state government’s environmental protection and climate change policies, warning that any future decision to cut down trees within the station must receive official approval after due consultation with relevant government agencies.
It expressed concern over the development, noting that the depletion of natural resources poses serious environmental consequences.
“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 statement said.
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The statement 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of the television station, saying findings had shown that ARTV was struggling to meet viewers’ expectations due to outdated content and poor-quality news production.
It said the station has failed to keep pace with the evolving media landscape, where audiences increasingly demand real-time engagement and digital accessibility.
“Studies have revealed that the station has fallen short of viewers’ expectations because of stale content and poor-quality news production.
“Unlike many modern television stations that provide opportunities for real-time engagement and on-demand viewing, ARTV remains largely conservative and is unable to compete effectively with its counterparts across the country,” he added.
It said the situation was inconsistent with the vision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, which prioritises digital innovation and modern operational practices across all sectors.
It stressed the need for the station’s management to utilise its annual budget effectively for transformational projects, staff development and institutional reforms.
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The commissioner disclosed that he would submit a special report to Governor 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.
It further urged the management of the station to embrace transparency, accountability and prudent management of resources while prioritising staff training and capacity building.
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Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Managing Director of ARTV, Malam Idris Musa, acknowledged that the organisation was facing several operational challenges.
According to him, the station is grappling with bureaucratic bottlenecks, inadequate staff training and insufficient digital infrastructure.
“We are facing a number of operational challenges, including bureaucratic issues, inadequate training opportunities for staff and the need for optimum digitisation of facilities at the station,” Musa said.
He expressed optimism that the proposed government intervention would help reposition the station for improved service delivery and competitiveness in the broadcasting industry.
