L-R: US Embassy Public Diplomacy Counselor, Mr Lee McManis; Director General, Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba-Ndace; Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu and the United States Embassy spokesperson and Press Attaché, Mr. Gilbert Morton when the US Envoy visited the minister in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.
By Chidi Ugwu
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that his ministry is collaborating closely with the United States government to promote and strengthen press freedom in Nigeria.
Idris stated this in an interview with newsmen shortly after he met with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills in his office on Wednesday.
Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, quoted the Minister to have said:
“The ambassador talked about some issues that he thinks we need to address, to improve in the area of press freedom and we have also given him assurance on what we are doing and he recognises the fact that we are doing a great job in ensuring that Nigerian press is not just free but also one of the freest around the world. I know there are some challenges here and there and we are working on those areas to ensure that all of us enjoy what is called press freedom, which is an important part of any viable democracy,” he said.
The Minister emphasized the Tinubu administration’s high priority on press freedom and assured the government’s commitment to further enhancing media freedom in the country.
He said they also discussed how to forge a common front in the fight against misinformation and disinformation in the country.
“He talked about misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and all that stuff, and we discussed that. We all believe collectively that there’s no way you can build a virile society when you promote fake news and don’t take the issue of misinformation and disinformation seriously,” he said.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mills said his meeting with the Minister is to discuss ways of strengthening the existing relationship between the US government and the Ministry, especially regarding press freedom and journalists’ rights.
He recognized the effort of the Minister in championing the cause of press freedom and journalists’ rights in Nigeria.
The US Envoy, who acknowledged the huge challenge posed by disinformation, especially in democracies around the world, said they have also shared thoughts and ideas with the minister on how to tackle the challenge.
