The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has charged Commissioners for Information from APC-controlled states to rise to the occasion and lead a coordinated national response to the “malicious disinformation campaigns” targeted at Nigeria’s image globally as contained in a release by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, wednesday, October 15, 2025 and made available to 9News Nigeria.
Speaking at the Progressive Governors’ Summit for APC States’ Commissioners for Information in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday, the Minister described the current wave of falsehoods branding Nigeria as a “genocide destination” as “a deliberate and malicious campaign designed to incite panic, fracture national unity, damage our international standing, and scare away the investment we so urgently need.”
He declared: “We are now confronting a deliberate and malicious campaign to falsely label Nigeria a ‘genocide destination.’ This is not mere misinformation; it is a coordinated disinformation operation….Our first strategic imperative, therefore, is to disarm and dislodge this corrosive narrative.”
Idris emphasized that Commissioners for Information must now act as the architects of public understanding and the first line of defense for the nation’s integrity. He called for a united information front across the states, working in synergy with governors, community leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society groups to create a chorus of credible voices that collectively refute this false narrative and affirm our shared identity.
“This moment demands that we reinforce our strategic counter-voice, systematically deconstructing these dangerous falsehoods with data, expert testimony, and powerful narratives of community resilience and inter-ethnic cooperation. We must demystify naysayers and reassure the public by repurposing complex government initiatives into accessible proof points of our commitment to unity and security.
Furthermore, we must forge a united information front, partnering with governors, community leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society to create a chorus of credible voices that collectively refute this false narrative and affirm our shared identity,” he said.
The Minister said, as the stewards of the truth, the commissioners must ensure that the story of Nigeria is defined not by the lies of detractors, but by the unwavering pursuit of unity, peace, and progress.
The Minister announced that the Federal Government will soon unveil the National Values Charter – a key instrument of national reorientation designed to infuse patriotism, protect the country and citizens, and unify around one indivisible Nigeria.
He stressed that the Charter will serve as the most potent counter-narrative to negative foreign mischaracterization of Nigeria.
“The National Values Charter will undeniably be the most potent counter-narrative to negative foreign mischaracterization of Nigeria. The Charter defines who we are: a people committed to unity in diversity, resilience, and mutual respect,” he stated.
Idris urged the Commissioners to make the Charter the foundation of all state-level communication, using it to actively promote a narrative of shared identity that renders divisive labels meaningless.
Reaffirming the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister enjoined the commissioners to amplify the great performance of the APC administration under President Tinubu, describing him as a reformer second-to-none, who is gradually leading the country towards economic efficiency, by translating policies into measurable impact.
He listed notable gains including the removal of oil subsidy, the floatation of the naira, a growing GDP of 4.23% in Q2 2025, improved external reserves above $42 billion, and expanded student loan access for over 600,000 tertiary students.
He also highlighted recent reforms such as the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, CREDICORP, and the regional development commissions, as well as the coming into effect of four landmark tax reform bills by January 2026.
“Honourable Commissioners for Information of our great party, may I draw our attention to the fact that by January 2026, the four landmark tax bills passed into law by our national legislature will become operational. It is the largest fiscal reform in our recent history, and a much-anticipated catalyst for national development.
It will require immersive communication at all levels of society. We must proceed with plans to educate our citizens and corporate entities. This is especially critical as we advance a comprehensive national agenda for growth and shared prosperity,” he said.
He said the injection of ₦1.5 trillion into the Bank of Agriculture to strengthen its capital base represents the highest in the nation’s history, aimed at stimulating agricultural growth and enhancing food security across the country.
“The Tinubu administration’s reforms are deliberate steps to build a more secure and equitable Nigeria. Our communications must consistently reflect this strategic direction, highlighting how policies are bearing positive outcomes through undeniable stories of progress, with clarity on new infrastructure, improved social services, and empowered communities. Beyond telling, show evidently that the government is present and working for all citizens,” he said.
The event, hosted by the Borno State Government, brought together Information Commissioners from all APC-controlled states to deepen collaboration on strategic communication, MEDIA LITERACY, and national orientation.
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