Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris says Nigeria is not a destination for genocide but rather a promising and fertile environment for both citizens and allies to harness for national development.
The Information Minister stated this at the Progressive Governor’s Forum Meeting for APC States’ Commissioners for Information in Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
According to Idris, “the current wave of falsehoods branding Nigeria as a genocide destination is deliberate and malicious campaign designed to incite panic, fracture national unity, damage international standing, and scare away the needed investment.”
He further charged Commissioners for Information from APC-controlled states to rise to the occasion and lead a coordinated national response to protect Nigeria’s image globally.
The Minister said; “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.
“We meet at a critical juncture, where the global information space is being weaponized against our nation. We are now confronting a deliberate and malicious campaign to falsely label Nigeria a “genocide destination.Our first strategic imperative, therefore, is to disarm and dislodge this corrosive narrative. We must refuse to amplify the terminology of our detractors. Instead, our messaging must be proactive, grounded in verifiable facts, and focused on the reality of our ongoing efforts toward security, stability, and national cohesion.”
Idris emphasised 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 explained.
Idris 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 Nigerian Government would 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 would 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.
He described the President as a reformer second-to-none, who is gradually leading the country towards economic efficiency, by translating policies into measurable impact.
“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 that 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 added
The event with the theme: “Federal Government of Nigeria PGF synergy 2025, one message, one future,” was hosted by the Borno State Government.
It brought together Information Commissioners from all APC-controlled states to deepen collaboration on strategic communication, media literacy, and national orientation.
Olusola Akintonde