For years, government communication in Kano followed a familiar pattern: press releases, radio, television, newspapers and occasional media briefings. It was a system designed for a time when citizens waited for the traditional media to tell them what government was doing. But the information environment has changed, and perhaps no period has exposed that change more than the emergence of Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in 2025.
What makes the Waiya period interesting is not simply the volume of government publicity, but the attempt to change the machinery through which that information is produced and delivered. Under his watch, the ministry established a Digital Multimedia Department, specifically designed to strengthen digital communication, document government activities, disseminate policies and respond to misinformation. That is a significant departure from the traditional model of waiting for newspapers, radio and television to carry the government’s message.
The transformation is also visible at the grassroots. The ministry has undertaken capacity-building for information officers across Kano’s 44 local government areas, while creating stronger coordination among public enlightenment and public relations personnel. This matters because government communication cannot be effective if information is concentrated only at the state secretariat; citizens in the local governments are equally entitled to timely and accurate information.
Waiya has also expanded engagement with the media itself, bringing together journalists, editors, online publishers and other practitioners for discussions around professional standards, ethical journalism and the changing media environment. This is increasingly important in a state where information now travels through WhatsApp, Facebook, X, TikTok and online news platforms almost as quickly as it happens.
Perhaps the biggest difference, however, is the growing recognition of crisis communication as part of governance. In an era where misinformation can spread before government officials have even finished responding to an incident, the ability to communicate quickly and credibly is no longer merely a publicity function. Waiya’s recognition as a finalist in the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards’ Crisis Communicator category is one indication of this changing role.
This does not mean the ministry has become perfect, nor should every policy of the commissioner escape scrutiny. A serious assessment must accommodate both achievements and criticisms. But it is difficult to ignore the institutional shift taking place.
From press releases to multimedia, from traditional publicity to digital engagement, from centralised communication to grassroots coordination, and from ordinary publicity to strategic and crisis communication, the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs appears to be adapting to a new information age.
And truly that is the most interesting thing about the Waiya era.
He did not simply inherit a ministry responsible for telling Kano what government was doing. He inherited a ministry that had to learn how to communicate with a generation that no longer waits to be told.
On a honest note the real test now is whether these changes will outlive the commissioner who introduced them when he is done.
Nworisa Michael is the coordinator of Inter-tribe Community Support Forum and writes from nworisamichael1917@gmail.com
