Mnena Iyorkegh, Abuja
The Nigerian Government has called on broadcasters in the country to intensify efforts in defending the country’s information sovereignty, countering foreign misinformation, and promoting national cohesion.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made the call while addressing the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, also reaffirmed commitment to strengthening laws and policies that enhance the credibility and sustainability of the media industry.
“As the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, I assure you that this government is fully committed to protecting press freedom while upholding national security. We will continue to promote responsible broadcasting and actively combat misinformation, ensuring that the media environment remains a space where truth, accuracy, and professionalism guide public communication.
“The government is determined to support technological advancement and digital safety across the broadcast ecosystem, while also ensuring that the broadcast sector thrives in an environment of innovation, fair competition, and long-term viability”, he said.
Idris said broadcasters are central to promoting unity, combating misinformation, and reinforcing trust in Nigeria’s information space, urging them to invest in stronger newsroom verification systems.
“As Government, we remain committed to press freedom. But we must also collectively protect our digital ecosystem against misinformation that threatens peace and national security.”
According to the information Minister, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms were beginning to yield measurable improvements, with inflation dropping to a three-year low of 16 per cent while food prices had also recorded sustained reductions.
” Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to $46.7 billion, the highest level in seven years—a development that is attributed to renewed investor confidence and improved macroeconomic stability. These outcomes are not accidental; They are the result of tough but necessary decisions taken by the President to reposition our economy for long-term growth and shared prosperity. The media should help Nigerians appreciate these gains,” he noted.
The Minister also announced the conviction of a notorious ISWAP commander, Hussaini Ismaila, who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after confessing to multiple acts of terrorism.
“His conviction represents the growing success of our intelligence, investigation, and prosecution capabilities. It is strong evidence that those who terrorize Nigeria will face justice swiftly and decisively”, Idris added.
For his part, the Chairman, Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN), Dr. Tijani Ramalan, while highlighting the association’s strategic importance, noted that IBAN members collectively hold 65 percent of Nigeria’s media market share, employing thousands of professionals across multiple sectors.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Conference Steering Committee, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr, speaking on the theme of the conference “Broadcasting for Information Sovereignty, National Culture, and Digital Strength”, said it captures the urgent need for Nigerian broadcasters to reclaim control of the nation’s narrative, stressing that Nigeria must not allow foreign actors to define its image without context.
“Associating Nigeria with labels like genocide or selective international reporting can instigate instability, scare off investors, promote capital flight, reinforce negative stereotypes, and reduce a complex country of over 200 million people into a caricature of crisis. Information sovereignty means ensuring Nigeria is understood first through Nigerian eyes, Nigerian voices, and Nigerian facts”, he said.
In a lecture on Broadcasting Policy Regulation and Information Sovereignty, Professor Armstrong Idachaba stressed the need to place greater emphasis on the broadcast of news and programmes in indigenous Nigerian languages so as to ensure direct relevance to local communities.
“The policy shall direct that VON shall be used to transmit, forcefully, aggressively, Nigeria’s position on all international issues, to the world, and the medium shall be equipped to do so skillfully and effectively.
“VON shall respond promptly and effectively to any and all forms of negative manipulations of information by foreign media on Nigeria’s domestic foreign policies and interests. The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the Voice of Nigeria shall be the only electronic media in the country to acquire the capacity to undertake long range broadcasting beyond Nigeria’s borders and to the world at large,” he stressed.
The 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria brought together a diverse mix of participants, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s media and regulatory framework, enhancing broadcast standards, and safeguarding the digital ecosystem.