SPEECH BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE, ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED, AT THE CITIZENS SUMMIT FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATION, PEACE AND SECURITY, ORGANIZED BY THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS (NIPR) IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY, AUG. 23RD 2022
I want to most sincerely commend the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), of which I am a proud Fellow, for organizing this event: Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security.
As a key stakeholder in the Nigerian project, I see this as NIPR's contribution to the discourse on national unity, and also a most
practical and positive contribution to the pressing challenges of peace and security in our country.
practical and positive contribution to the pressing challenges of peace and security in our country.
2. I am aware that the NIPR initiated the dialogue on national integration, peace and security a while back, and that it has indeed
taken the discourse to other parts of the country, culminating in this national summit. But I must confess that I am not surprised.
taken the discourse to other parts of the country, culminating in this national summit. But I must confess that I am not surprised.
3. When I received a delegation of the NIPR at my office in May 2021, I challenged the institute to use its powerful platform to speak out against those fanning the embers of disunity and discord in the country.
I want to say, without equivocation, that you have risen to that challenge by fostering a national dialogue on this issue.
With this dialogue, you have ensured that we are talking to ourselves
instead of talking at ourselves. And that's the first step in tackling the myriad of challenges facing us as a nation.
instead of talking at ourselves. And that's the first step in tackling the myriad of challenges facing us as a nation.
4. This summit couldn't have come at a better time, with the issues of peace, security and national unity on the front burner of our
national discourse.
national discourse.
In recent times, in particular, the issues of peace and security have been on the lips of many Nigerians, against the backdrop of rampaging terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
This crisis of insecurity has, unfortunately, been exacerbated by the twin evil of #fakenews and misinformation. I will come to that shortly.
5. Back to the security challenges, I want to say that under the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has directed the military to crush those terrorising our citizens, peace and security are gradually being restored to the country.
Let me quote Mr. President himself on his directive to the military: ββJudging by the available reports to me and news that have begun emerging in the last few days, I will say they have heard this instruction and are responding appropriately.
In the past couple of days, you must have heard about the number of terrorists neutralized by the military, and number of hostages freed.
These efforts will not stop,or reduce. We must take the fight to the terrorists and demonstrate that there is no hiding place for them within the borders of our country. Each one of them will be hunted,and pursued and spoken to in the language that they understand.ββEnd of quote.
These are great words of assurance,
coming directly from the President and Commander-in-Chief himself.
coming directly from the President and Commander-in-Chief himself.
6. I want to use this important platform to commend our gallant men and women in uniform, and to appeal to all our compatriots to continue to support them in their onerous task of keeping our country safe.
We must also realize that security is the business of everyone, hence the tagline 'if you see something, say something.'' Terrorists or bandits
are not spirits. They are human beings and they reside in our communities. They must all be exposed and crushed for peace to reign.
are not spirits. They are human beings and they reside in our communities. They must all be exposed and crushed for peace to reign.
7. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me touch briefly on how fake news and misinformation are exacerbating insecurity, fuelling apprehension among the citizens and demoralizing the security agencies.
I recall that during the courtesy visit to me by the NIPR delegation, I also appealed to them to leverage their powerful platform to ensure that the menace of fake news and misinformation is confronted squarely.
I said my appeal was because this twin evil is a clear and present danger to the peace, security and development of any nation.
8. Let me cite some recent instances of fake news and misinformation in this regard. On August 10th, the Kaduna State Government had to debunk an online report claiming that hundreds of bandits had laid a siege on the Kaduna-Zaria road.
The widely circulated message even advised travellers not to enter or leave Zaria due to the presence of bandits at Dumbi and Jaji along the Zaria road. Imagine the apprehension and disruption of plans that this fake news could have caused.
Imagine its impact on the security agencies who are doing
everything, including paying the ultimate price, to keep us safe.
everything, including paying the ultimate price, to keep us safe.
9. Also, in April 2022, a drone video went viral showing a group of five men wearing red clothes and cooking inside an unknown forest.
Those circulating the video claimed that it was somewhere in Nigeria.
Those circulating the video claimed that it was somewhere in Nigeria.
But when BBC did a fact-check on the drone video, it discovered that it was not in Nigeria. The video was circulated just to create panic
among the citizens and put the society on edge.
among the citizens and put the society on edge.
10. In June 2022, there were reports of bandits using a helicopter to attack residents in four communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna.
The Kaduna state government had to debunk the story by clarifying that the chopper was actually an Air Force helicopter dispatched to repel an attack in the area. Again, imagine the panic that would have been triggered by this fake news.
11. Finally, I cannot count the number of fake news that has been attributed to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the favourite 'whipping boy' of the
relentless authors of #fakenews and misinformation.
relentless authors of #fakenews and misinformation.
After the Kuje attack, one of such fake news quoted me as saying: ''The bandits never told us they were coming to Kuje. It was a big surprise.'' As silly as this sounds, you will be shocked that some people still believed and shared it on social media.
12. We saw this coming. As far back as 2017, we decided to tackle the challenge of #fakenews and misinformation. That year, we devoted the entire National Council on Information to this issue.
We then followed up by launching a #NationalCampaignAgainstFakenes and Misinformation, after which we embarked on a nationwide advocacy campaign to media establishments.
We have also reached out to the various social media platforms like Facebook and Google in order to work with them to curtail the spread of fake news and misinformation.
In addition, we have embarked on the reform of the broadcast industry, especially to stop misinformation and hate speech by the nation's
broadcast stations.
broadcast stations.
I am glad that many CSOs have taken up this challenge of tackling fake news and misinformation, just like I am delighted that a number of newspapers have set up fact-checking desks.
13. As I round off this short presentation, I want to once again commend the organizers of this event for their patriotism. I hope the
outcome will be widely disseminated for the benefit of our people.
outcome will be widely disseminated for the benefit of our people.
I want to assure all Nigerians that just like this Administration has
put the seemingly-intractable farmers-herders crisis under control, it will also successfully tackle the terrorists and bandits who have been put their knees on the necks of our people.
put the seemingly-intractable farmers-herders crisis under control, it will also successfully tackle the terrorists and bandits who have been put their knees on the necks of our people.
As our security agencies put them on the run, they will no longer be able to carry out their deadly attacks as well as kidnappings. Peace and security will return to our country, and our unity will be strengthened.
14. I thank you all for your kind attention
14. I thank you all for your kind attention
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