Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture,
has insisted that some Nigerians in Diaspora still rely on platforms that
peddle fake news and misinformation about Nigeria.
Mohammed also said that secessionist groups that are
campaigning around the world for their causes have identified some Nigerians in
Diaspora to propagate their fake narratives about the country.
The minister stated this when he received members of
Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO), UK Chapter, in Abuja on Tuesday.
He urged NIDO to seize the Initiative from those who are
bent on painting Nigeria bad in the comity of nations, especially in the area
of insecurity.
The minister also implored the organization to leverage its
contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in
world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet
of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false
narratives to portray Nigeria in a bad light.
Mohammed said, “I want to commend your patriotism and
steadfastness, especially for this Initiative, which is aimed at shining a
positive light on Nigeria, celebrating the country and contributing towards a
better Nigeria. This is what patriots do, not badmouthing their country around
the world.
“The Buhari Administration considers Nigerians in Diaspora
as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, hence has done the
unprecedented by establishing the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM),
which has been doing a good job in coordinating and providing an organized
system of collaborations of Nigerians in Diaspora. Thanks to the commission,
issues affecting Nigerians in Diaspora have been receiving prompt attention.
NIDCOM has also ensured that Nigerian in Diaspora are well informed about the
activities of the government. It is therefore alarming and disappointing that
some Nigerians in Diaspora still rely on platforms that peddle fake news and
misinformation about Nigeria.
“Also, each time Mr. President travels outside the country,
he has made the engagement with Nigerians in his host country a regular affair,
just as we at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture have always
ensured that we interact with Nigerians when we travel outside the country for
official purposes. Unfortunately, the avoidable division among Nigerians in
Diaspora in some countries has hampered such engagements. But we will not
relent in seeking out and engaging with patriotic Nigerians in Diaspora.
“It is in recognition of the relevance of Nigerians in
Diaspora that the secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world for
their causes have identified and are effectively using some of them (Nigerians
in Diaspora) to propagate their fake narratives about the country, in addition to
relying on their financial contributions to fund their nefarious activities.
This is disheartening.
“I therefore want to use this opportunity to appeal to NIDO
to seize the Initiative from those who are bent on painting Nigeria bad in the
comity of nations. Yes, we have challenges, especially in the area of
insecurity. But this Administration has not only acknowledged these challenges,
it is earnestly tackling them. I am bold to say that no government in the
history of this country has done so much with so little.
“Instead of contributing their own quota to these efforts,
all you hear from a section of Nigerians in the Diaspora and their allies back
home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution,
political marginalization, human rights abuses, etc. These are baseless and
false. As an organized and well connected group, I implore NIDO to leverage its
contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in
world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet
of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false
narratives to portray Nigeria in bad light. I have no doubt that you will take
this call seriously and do everything in your power to change the narrative for
the better.
“On our part as government, we are currently re-engineering
and ramping up our diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in
addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda. “
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