President expresses confidence in economic reforms and security gains, urges responsible journalism and action against fake news
President Bola Tinubu has charged members of the National Communications Team to strengthen public engagement and ensure Nigerians receive accurate and timely information on government policies as his administration consolidates gains in the economy and security.
President Tinubu gave the charge on Tuesday during a meeting with the government’s communications team at the State House, Abuja.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the engagement provided an opportunity for members of the communications machinery to brief the President on public reactions to government programmes and receive firsthand guidance on the administration’s policy direction.
According to Idris, President Tinubu reaffirmed that the Nigerian economy has “turned the corner” and stressed the need to consolidate ongoing reforms to sustain growth and deliver greater benefits to citizens.
“We have heard from the President. We now know that the economy has turned the corner. It is for us now to consolidate on those gains and ensure that the economy of this country is put on the right pedestal so that the trajectory of growth that we are already seeing can be further enhanced for the benefit of Nigerians,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that the President expressed confidence in the progress being recorded in the fight against insecurity, attributing the improvements to enhanced collaboration among the nation’s military, intelligence and other security agencies.
He explained that the National Communications Team comprises the Minister of Information and National Orientation, presidential Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, heads of agencies under the ministry and other government communications officials.
According to him, the periodic engagements are designed to keep the President informed about public perceptions of government policies while ensuring that government spokespersons accurately communicate the administration’s priorities to Nigerians.
“It is important that we continuously talk to Mr. President, hear from him and also tell him what we are doing, what the reactions of Nigerians are to government policies and programmes, and the direction that we need to go going forward,” Idris stated.
Speaking on security, the minister acknowledged that challenges remain but said the administration was intensifying efforts to restore peace across the country.
“We know that the challenges remain, but government will continue to work to make sure that Nigerians go about their daily affairs and sleep well in their homes,” he said.
Idris identified improved coordination among security and intelligence agencies as one of the administration’s major achievements.
“We can see the better coordination this time around between all the security agencies and intelligence agencies working together in consonance with each other. This is the new thing that is happening under the leadership of Mr. President,” he added.
The minister also urged journalists and media organisations to exercise their constitutional freedoms responsibly, stressing that freedom of expression must be accompanied by accountability.
“Freedom also has to come with responsibility. They cannot take one and leave the other,” he said.
He further expressed concern over the growing threat posed by fake news, misinformation and disinformation, particularly with the increasing use of artificial intelligence, and called for collective efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic space through accurate and responsible communication.