The police commissioner in Kano, Ibrahim Bakori, has unveiled a table tennis facility for members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

He described the gesture as a symbol of the partnership between the police and the media in Kano.

The unveiling, which took place on Sunday at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano, drew journalists, security officials and other stakeholders.

Mr Bakori, while inaugurating the facility, commended the members of the chapel for their professionalism and balanced reportage, stressing that effective policing largely depended on constructive engagement with the media.

He described journalists as critical partners in policing, noting that their role in disseminating information and promoting public enlightenment remained indispensable.

According to him, informal engagements, such as sporting and recreational activities, help build trust, enhance communication, and strengthen mutual understanding between security agencies and journalists.

Mr Bakori said the sustained collaboration between the police and the media had contributed to the relative peace being enjoyed in Kano, adding that crime incidents had continued to decline.

He also said that bandits’ activities around some border communities had been curtailed through cooperation with key stakeholders, including journalists.

The chairman of the NUJ chapel, Murtala Adewale, described the facility as a historic achievement and the fulfilment of the chapel’s long-standing aspiration.

Mr Adewale said the initiative was aimed at promoting the physical and mental well-being of journalists, noting that the profession was demanding and often stressful. He said sporting activities would help journalists remain healthy, focused and productive in the discharge of their professional duties.

The chairman of the NUJ in Kano, Suleiman Dederi, described the unveiling as a milestone for the Correspondents’ Chapel. He encouraged other NUJ chapels to initiate programmes that promote the welfare and unity of journalists.

(NAN)