Tone Down The Tension in The Country, Promote Unity, Minister Charges Information Agencies

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
called on the heads of the public information organs to work hard to
counter the hatred and hostility being orchestrated by naysayers by
promoting national unity.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Thursday when he received, on a
courtesy visit, the heads of the information parastatals under his
ministry.

“In particular, this coterie of DGs here hold in their hands the
destiny of this country, because you have the responsibility to tone
down the hostility and the hatred that are threatening to engulf the
country today.

“You all have very powerful platforms to dial down the tension of
disunity and I think you have the responsibility, not only to Mr.
President and this nation, but also to generations unborn to use your
powerful platforms to restore unity back into the country.

“You should use your platforms to promote not just unity but also
cordial relations among all groups, irrespective of ethnicity or
religion,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed urged the heads of the information agencies to work
with him to defeat those fanning the embers of discord by seizing the
narrative and promoting the correct perspective about the country.

“We must seize and control the narrative and give the correct
perception not just to Nigerians but the entire world and I am sure
that with your cooperation, we can achieve this,” he said.

The Minister, who thanked them for the congratulatory visit, said his
reappointment is a reflection of the confidence which the President
has in the Information Sector.

“Information sector is not just the Minister alone. The sector is only
coordinated and headed by the minister. The parastatals are also very
crucial to the success of the ministry. Therefore, we should
congratulate ourselves on the reappointment (because) it means Mr.
President has confidence in our modest efforts,” he said.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Director General of the
National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari, said the DGs came to
congratulate the Minister on his reappointment and to commit
themselves to carrying out the mandate of their respective agencies.

The other members of the delegation are the Directors-General of the
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mansur Liman; Nigerian
Television Authority, Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed; Voice of Nigeria,
Mr. Osita Okechukwu; National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Isha’q
Modibbo Kawu, and the Acting Director General of the Centre for Black
and African Arts and Civilization, Mrs. Ndidi Aimienwaw.