By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano Residents of Hotoro and neighbouring communities in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State have raised concerns over what they describe as large-scale felling of trees within the premises of the state-owned Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), amid allegations that some of the wood is being commercialised. The development comes at a time when the Kano State Government is intensifying efforts to combat deforestation, strengthen forestry regulations, and promote environmental sustainability across the state. Observations by The Historica Nigeria during separate visits to the television station revealed evidence of extensive tree cutting within sections of the facility, which for decades remained one of the greenest public environments within Kano metropolis. For many years, the station’s premises hosted a wide variety of indigenous and exotic tree species that contributed significantly to environmental conservation, climate moderation, biodiversity protection, and improved air quality for residents of surrounding communities. Read Also: Illegal mass felling of trees ongoing at Kano government-owned institution – Report Why Gobirawa’s Centuries-Old Agrarian Life is at Risk in Kano Intervention Brings Relief to Struggling Bauchi Nomadic School Residents, however, allege that a substantial number of these trees have recently been cut down and removed from the premises. Speaking with The Historica Nigeria, several residents expressed disappointment over what they described as the inability of the institution’s management to halt the ongoing destruction of trees. One resident, Malam Ibrahim Adamu, claimed that heavy-duty trucks and other vehicles had repeatedly been seen evacuating logs and large quantities of wood from the station. “We saw large trucks and vehicles transporting substantial quantities of wood from the premises of Abubakar Rimi Television,” he said. According to him, the disappearance of the trees is already contributing to rising temperatures around Hotoro and neighbouring communities. “The environment behind the ARTV quarters used to be cooler because of the dense concentration of trees. The situation has changed significantly,” he stated. Adamu disclosed that the station previously hosted numerous tree species, including mahogany, neem, delonix regia, acacia species, gum Arabic, marula tree, adansonia digitata, eucalyptus, mango, guava, and several other economic trees. He further lamented that many indigenous and traditional tree species that once flourished within the station’s premises have now disappeared. “Some of the trees that were cut down are species that can hardly be found today except in remote rural areas. They were part of the unique environmental heritage preserved within ARTV for decades,” he said. He added that beyond their environmental value, several of the trees served medicinal purposes and were widely recognised for their herbal benefits by local communities. “Many of these trees are used for traditional medicine. Apart from their medicinal importance, they also played a vital role in environmental protection by absorbing heat and helping to regulate temperatures during the dry season,” Adamu stated. He warned that the continued loss of mature trees could have long-term environmental consequences for the area. “We are calling on the Kano State Government and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to urgently investigate the situation and take appropriate action,” he added. Some staff members of the station, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also expressed concern over the development. One source alleged that some of the felled trees were being sold for commercial purposes. “It is surprising to see trees that have stood within this premises for more than 25 to 35 years being cut down. Many of them are now gone and have become part of history,” the source said. Another staff member alleged that some trees were recently removed to create space for a football field despite the environmental value attached to preserving mature trees. Findings by The Historica Nigeria also revealed the existence of a small firewood market located close to the perimeter fence of the television station. However, claims that the market sources wood directly from the station could not be independently verified. The concerns emerge barely months after the Kano State Government introduced stricter measures against indiscriminate tree felling. In September 2025, the government announced a ban on illegal tree cutting and the unlicensed use of chainsaws as part of broader efforts to combat environmental degradation and mitigate the impact of climate change. The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, had warned that violators could face fines of up to N500,000, confiscation of equipment, and possible imprisonment. The state government also introduced the Chainsaw Usage Permit Framework (CUPF) aimed at regulating logging activities and strengthening compliance with reforestation policies. Similarly, in March 2026, the government commenced a review of the state’s forestry law, originally enacted in 1959, to strengthen environmental protection and align regulations with contemporary realities. Efforts by The Historica Nigeria to obtain comments from the Kano State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change were unsuccessful, as calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him were not responded to as of the time of filing this report. Attempts to obtain the reaction of the Managing Director of Abubakar Rimi Television were also unsuccessful. Sources at the station indicated that she was outside the country performing the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia at the time of this report. Environmental stakeholders maintain that government institutions should serve as models for environmental stewardship and compliance with forestry regulations. Experts have consistently warned that unchecked urban deforestation contributes to rising temperatures, poor air quality, flooding, biodiversity loss, and worsening climate conditions, particularly in rapidly expanding cities such as Kano. For many residents of Hotoro and surrounding communities, the issue extends beyond the loss of trees. They argue that it raises broader questions about environmental accountability, institutional compliance, and the enforcement of environmental laws within government-owned establishments. As Kano continues its campaign against environmental degradation, residents insist that the same environmental standards promoted by government must also be strictly enforced within public institutions and agencies across the state.
