The management of Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV) has dismissed a report alleging that numerous trees were cut down and timber was being sold within the premises of the state-owned television station, describing the report as misleading and lacking credibility.
In a response to a publication by The Historica Nigeria, ARTV management said the report was inaccurate and did not adhere to journalistic ethics, as the station was not contacted for its side of the story before publication.
According to the management, neither the office of the Director General of ARTV, Hajiya Hauwa Isa Ibrahim, nor any authorized official responsible for providing information was consulted to verify the allegations contained in the report.
“The report was published without contacting ARTV management or any relevant official. Journalistic standards require that all parties be given the opportunity to respond, especially when serious allegations are involved,” the statement said.
ARTV also challenged the claim that there was large-scale tree cutting within its premises, insisting that only two or three trees were removed.
The management explained that contrary to the report’s portrayal of severe environmental destruction, the number of trees cut down did not exceed two or three.
According to them, the trees were removed from specific locations after a security assessment revealed they had become hiding spots for miscreants and individuals involved in criminal activities, who allegedly used the dense vegetation as cover.
Officials of the station said the decision was taken to improve security within the ARTV premises and to protect staff, visitors, and nearby residents from potential threats.
“This is a security measure, and it should not be interpreted as an attempt to damage the environment or engage in commercial tree exploitation,” the statement added.
ARTV also denied allegations that the felled trees were sold for profit, stating that no evidence had been presented to support such claims.
The management reiterated its commitment to environmental protection and proper stewardship of public assets, emphasizing that ARTV recognizes the importance of preserving the environment and maintaining a safe and healthy atmosphere for the public.
While urging the public to disregard what it described as distorted information, ARTV called on media organizations to adhere to journalistic principles by verifying facts and seeking responses from all parties involved before publishing reports.
The controversy follows an online publication alleging the cutting down of several large trees within the ARTV premises—claims the station described as exaggerated and published without proper investigation or verification.
