The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has accused media houses of portraying Nigeria in bad light before the international community.
Lai Mohammed said Nigeria is experiencing image problems due to unflattering reports by the media.
Mohammed disclosed this at a ceremony on renaming of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Headquarters building after the late Wada Maida in Abuja on Thursday, September 16.
The minister accused the media of not being factual in their report of security agents in the fight against insecurity.
According to Lai Mohammed: “Whatever image problem Nigeria is suffering from today; is mostly due to the unflattering portrayal of the country by the country’s media.
“Even when some media organizations report fake news; they never have the decency to retract such stories and apologise. They simply move on as if nothing has happened.
“We are not saying the media should not report on the security challenges we face. All we are saying is: be fair and report accurately the efforts being made by the state and federal governments to tackle the challenges.
“Even if you don’t want to encourage the men and women in uniform fighting to keep us safe; please don’t discourage them with negative reporting. The security challenges we face today will be successfully tackled; and Nigeria will not cease to exist, despite the antics of naysayers.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People for 2021.
1st News learned that Okonjo-Iweala made the list released on Wednesday, September 15, alongside US President Joe Biden, Angelique Kidjo, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan.
The list recognises “people whose ideas, example, talent, or discoveries transform the world we live in”.
She was named in the leaders’ category alongside US Vice President, Kamala Harris; Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
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“As we face a constant barrage of vaccine misinformation; bureaucratic slowdowns across both government and industry; and the rise of variants that underscore the urgency of the situation, Okonjo-Iweala has shown us that to end the pandemic; we must work together to equip every nation with equitable vaccine access,” Prince Harry and Meghan wrote about Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance.
“Our conversations with her have been as informative as they are energizing. This is partly because, despite the challenges, she knows how to get things done; even between those who don’t always agree; and does so with grace; and a smile that warms the coldest of rooms.”
