Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for the adoption of digital innovation to effectively manage communication and crisis response for national development, stressing the importance of strong collaboration.
The Information Minister, who made this known while receiving members of the Centre for Crisis Communication, led by its Chairman, Chris Olukolade, said that the proposals by the center align with ongoing federal efforts to strengthen crisis communication and national security.
He noted that crises in the digital age are now shaped as much by the speed of information as by the events themselves.
“Crises are no longer only defined by events, but also by how information spreads as fast as it does nowadays. Innovation, especially in the digital area, helps a great deal in how you communicate crisis positively, and I’m very happy that this Centre is really putting an emphasis on that. Digital innovation is therefore central to timely, accurate and coordinated communication,” particularly during riots, bombings and kidnappings. crisis communication using innovative digital approach has a way of ensuring that we get this information controlled in a way and manner that is acceptable worldwide”, he noted
According to the Minister, the Centre’s initiatives align with the ministry’s mandate, especially in promoting responsible communication.
“Anybody can spread information, anybody can share information, but what is important is how responsible, how honest and how patriotic that information is shared for the good of all Nigerians. It is not all information that you want to hear, but it must be communicated in a way that is responsible, that is patriotic and that is also very honest.”
The Minister warned that in the growing threat of misinformation and artificial intelligence manipulation, the key priority should be reporting responsibly for the good of the nation.
“in this era when fake news and the manipulation of AI has become very worrisome we cannot do away with AI, we cannot do away with the digital media, the new media, we cannot do away with the social media, but we must devise ways and means of ensuring that we use these tools responsibly, honestly and patriotically in the interest of our dear nation. Everyone’s rights should stop where the other person’s own begin… responsible use of whatever tool you are using is core in ensuring that you have what is called effective communication”, he said
Idris further emphasised the need for collaboration to complement the government’s efforts.
“Government alone cannot manage the information ecosystem. It is not the duty of the government to spread information alone. The Federal Government recognises “the value of this strategic partnership with credible institutions, civil society organisations, communication experts and all responsible citizens in shaping the resilience of our national communication framework. Therefore, it is the desire of this ministry to ensure that we partner with all those concerned, especially centres such as yours and others, NGOs and other civil society organisations, so that we can strengthen our national communication framework for the development of our country,” he said
Welcoming the symposium report presented by the Centre, he said, the Ministry was going to study the report carefully and explore areas where its recommendations can complement ongoing government initiatives.
On the area of security reform, the Minister advocated for the need for state policing; he reiterated the position of President Bola Tinubu on decentralised policing.
“The Federal Government has endorsed the proposed National Crisis Communication Hub and renewed the push for state police. The time has indeed come for decentralised policing in Nigeria. It is the desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see that, once the backing of the National Assembly is sought, that all states have state police. The President has appealed to lawmakers, “particularly the Senate, to ensure that we have the proper legislation put in place for the take-off of state police in our country,” Idris added
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Centre for Crisis Communication, Chris Olukolade, said the November 2025 National Symposium on Digital Innovation and Crisis Communication came out with actionable solutions to address emerging challenges in digital communications.
“The symposium produced a comprehensive and actionable communique that has the effect of both meeting global challenges and emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of digital communications. From social media dynamics to the use of artificial intelligence, the discussion made it clear that Nigeria, and indeed Africa, must act swiftly to avoid being left behind in this new era of information management,” he said.
The Chairman revealed that a key recommendation was “the establishment of an independent, multi-stakeholder national crisis communication hub capable of real-time monitoring and coordinated responses to digital threats, including fake news, hate speech and other forms of misinformation.”
“Continuous training for journalists, public relations officers, and security spokespersons was strongly recommended during our conference, particularly in the digital tools, advanced fact-finding and fact-checking, and early detection through AI-generated misinformation tools. Strengthening media literacy was identified as essential to combating misinformation and safeguarding public trust. To ensure sustainability, the symposium resolved to institutionalise annual crisis communication symposium across all six geopolitical zones beginning from 2026, thereby deepening national capacity and fostering continuous learning,” he explained
The Centre also proposed “a crisis communication index, a data-driven assessment of how institutions communicate during crisis, focusing on preparedness, responsiveness, transparency, public enlightenment and digital misinformation management,” Olukolade added, urging the ministry to endorse the initiative.
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“The Centre was assured of government’s continued openness to constructive engagement and collaboration that strengthens Nigeria’s crisis communication architecture, that it is fully aligned once all the parameters are set for it to take off.”