The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja reiterated called on media houses to set up a desk to fact-check all information at their disposal before dissemination.
Mohammed made the call at a One-Day Symposium with the theme,” Information as a Public Good,” organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in partnership with the National Broadcasting Commission, Nigerian Press Council and NATCOM UNESCO.
Represented by Mr Ibidapo Okunnu, Director, Production, Publication and Documentation at the ministry, Mohammed said fake news, misinformation and hate speech could led to civil unrest and impact negatively on national cohesion, “hence we must eschew this practice.”
Mohammed also enjoined the media to weed out those whose activities, which include spreading fake news, misinformation and hate speech are undermining professionalism and eroding confidence in the media.
” We must at all times note that safeguarding our nationhood and positioning our country and citizens for true development and growth must remain sacrosanct.
” The symposium could not have come at a better time than now when the term ‘collective good’ has been distorted with the proliferation of fake news, misinformation and hate speech in our media space.
” I want to reiterate my call to the media to set up a desk to fact-check all information at their disposal before dissemination. I have observed that some media outfits have kick-started this process.
” I commend them greatly for this patriotic act. I urge others to emulate this worthy example by setting up this desk,” the minister said.
Mohammed, who assured continued government would support on the media, commended efforts of courageous men and women of the fourth estate of the realm.
” They often engaged in energy sapping and sometimes thankless job of being the conscience of the society,” he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, said government remains committed to enforcing the rule of law and ensuring that freedom of press and overall citizen’s rights to freedom of expression was protected.
Represented by the Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Mr Dikibujiri Zeddon, Anyanwutaku, urged the media to continue the good work of mirroring the Nigerian society in a most credible way.
Also, Mr Abdoulaye Salifou, Regional Advisor for Higher Education and Information Communications Technology, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, urged media to tackle misinformation and other harmful content.
Salifou also enjoined the media to promote good governance, encourage the organisation of credible elections and the appointment of competent people to public office.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Mr Francis Nwosu, admonished journalists to exercise sense of responsibility and be very conscious of national security, interest and wellbeing.