FG to Media: Stop Giving Terrorists the Publicity They Crave

FG to Media: Stop Giving Terrorists the Publicity They Crave

The Federal Government has urged journalists, broadcasters and social media influencers to avoid giving terrorists and bandits the publicity they crave, stressing that responsible reporting is essential to strengthening national unity and countering violent extremism.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal on Monday during the maiden edition of the Arewa Media Summit in Kano.

The event was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment.

According to the minister, the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and should focus on promoting unity, resilience and hope instead of amplifying the narratives of criminal groups.

Idris said a healthy democracy depends on transparent governance, responsible civic engagement and a media that upholds professionalism, fairness and integrity in carrying out its constitutional responsibility.

He also expressed concern over the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation, noting that the digital age has transformed every smartphone into a powerful publishing platform.

While this has expanded access to information, he said it has also made the circulation of false and misleading content easier, with the potential to erode public trust and threaten national cohesion.

Also speaking at the summit, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said the gathering was designed to deepen collaboration between government, citizens and the media by promoting accountability, responsible communication and ethical journalism.

He said governments must provide timely and accurate information, citizens should engage constructively in public discourse, while the media must continue to serve as a credible bridge between leaders and the public through balanced and fact-based reporting.

Abdulaziz further urged social media influencers to verify information before publishing and to avoid content capable of inflaming tensions, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

He disclosed that over 100 APC social media communicators had recently undergone training on effectively communicating government policies and programmes.

The presidential aide also unveiled the “Gani Ya Kori” initiative, a regional project inspection programme aimed at highlighting infrastructure and development projects executed by President Bola Tinubu and northern state governors which, according to him, have not received adequate public attention.

Declaring the summit open, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called on other states to replicate Kano’s Special Reporters Initiative, which has deployed more than 150 young people to ministries, departments, agencies and all 44 local government areas to strengthen public communication and improve citizens’ access to government information.

The summit brought together journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers, digital content creators, academics, policymakers and communication experts from across Northern Nigeria under the theme: “Government, Citizens: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”