According to Mohammed Idris, the minister of information, the federal government is about to send National Orientation Agency workers to 774 local government areas across the country.
Idris, who bemoaned the fact that the majority of the nation’s information outposts are unmanned, claimed that the change is vital to revive the nation’s losing sense of identity.
The 774 LGAs each have a branch of the national orientation agency.We are rebuilding it even though not all of the individuals who will staff these local government offices are here. Idris briefed President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, and shortly after, he told State House Correspondents, “We are going to place officials of the NOA around all the 774 LGAs.
Idris stated that “this country has lost its sense of national identity and patriotism. That is something we are attempting to recreate and reconstruct.
“Mr. President has given me the go-ahead to ensure that Nigerians once again have faith in this nation. We’re developing a national conversation about orientation or reorientation. in order for Nigerians to have faith in their nation.
Even in leaders they have chosen for themselves, they lack faith. Flags are no longer flying. When you visit government facilities, you never even notice the fluttering emblem of our shared existence.
We are reintroducing the idea of discipline that Nigerians ought to possess. Patriotism. belief in the nationhood that was established by our founding ancestors. The minister said, “National orientation will be at the center of it.
Despite the prevalence of bogus news on social media, the FG, according to him, will not restrict Nigerians’ ability to express themselves.
The Federal Government is, however, “looking at ideas by the Nigerian Press Council to establish up a registration mechanism for journalists but is skeptical of worries about “gagging the media,” Idris said.
He bemoaned Nigerians’ online use of unpatriotic language and stated that having the right to free expression carries a lot of responsibilities.
“Walking that line is quite delicate. Although press freedom is something that the government, Mr. President, and all of us in that industry are committed to preserving. That freedom carries with it obligations…No attempt has been made by the administration to silence the press, Idris assured reporters.
The Minister responded to the Nigerian Press Council’s intentions to register journalists in an effort to clean up the industry by saying, “Well, it is being looked at; you know that Mr. President believes in press freedom. He supports the right to free speech, and he won’t allow the media to be restrained in any way.
“He’s going to fight tirelessly to make sure that the already-free Nigerian press is even more free. But there is a heavy price to pay for this independence.
You cannot simply declare what is wrong because you have press freedom. Freedom, responsible freedom, will exist.
Idris stated that plans were being made for the wellbeing of Nigerian journalists in their own country. I spoke with the president about it. He expects me to develop a strategy for that.
We will work on it, and when we are ready, you will receive firm responses. There is no attempt by the administration to censor the press, and I want to stress that. Whatever it takes to be accountable and responsible will be done by us. The best journalism is ethical journalism.
On August 21, 2023, Idris came into power. The previous day, he wrapped off his first trip to the Nigerian Press Council, where he declared that the country’s journalists would “breathe and flourish” under the new leadership.
