IPMAN solicits broadcast airtime to counter misinformation, fake news

Samuel Okocha, Abuja

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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has asked the government for broadcast airtime to counter misinformation and promote the green energy initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The IPMAN President Abubakar Garima who made the request during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday in Abuja, the capital said that IPMAN, which represents more than 30,000 members and 150,000 retail outlets across the country, wants to air its radio and television program, IPMAN Today, on Radio Nigeria Network and NTA Network, two state-owned media platforms with wide reach.

“There are many times where the issue of petroleum products has become topics of fake news in Nigeria

“We wish to solicit for broadcast airtime from the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Mohammed Idris Malagi, to ensure adequate and precise information dissemination regarding our association.”

Garima also praised President Tinubu’s green energy initiative, which involves the use of compressed natural gas, or CNG, as an alternative fuel for vehicles.

He said IPMAN Today will highlight the benefits of CNG and the latest developments from the presidency on the green energy agenda.

“President Tinubu’s ultimate goal in the green energy initiative is to alleviate the effect of subsidy removal in the lives of Nigerians. With our massive membership strength, we will ventilate the benefits of the CNG initiative to our members and to Nigerians, and also constantly enlighten our members and the public on latest developments and trends from the presidency on the CNG and Green Energy initiatives.”

Commendation 

Idris, who received the IPMAN delegation, thanked them for their support for the CNG initiative and expressed his readiness to grant them the requested airtime.

“The CNG as part of the green energy initiative is expected to bring down the cost of transportation by more than 50%. We appreciate IPMAN for their cooperation and collaboration with the government in this regard.”

He also said he was happy to support IPMAN in its quest to stamp out fake news from the country, especially in the oil and gas industry.

“If we don’t become very careful, fake news can lead us to some serious disaster. It’s not just a Nigerian problem, but a global problem…which Nigeria has subscribed to fighting,” he said.

The Minister pledged his support for IPMAN to air its program on Radio Nigeria Network and NTA Network, and said he would direct the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, or FRCN, and the Nigerian Television Authority, or NTA, to work with IPMAN based on what they have prepared to work on.

He also called on IPMAN to collaborate with private-owned media as part of efforts to engage all relevant partners within the Nigerian media landscape in stamping out fake news while telling the true Nigerian story.

Tinubu, who took office in 2023, has vowed to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products and to diversify the economy away from oil. He has also pledged to tackle the challenges of poverty, insecurity and corruption in Africa’s most populous nation.

Garima expressed his gratitude to Idris for hosting IPMAN and promised to cooperate with the ministry to achieve its goals.

 

 

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