Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom has received a significant boost as the Ministry of Information and National Orientation teams up with the United States to tackle misinformation and strengthen media rights.
Minister Mohammed Idris announced this collaboration following Wednesday’s meeting with Richard Mills, the US Ambassador to Nigeria.
In the interview, Idris highlighted the discussions with Ambassador Mills, noting, “The ambassador talked about some issues that he thinks we need to address to improve press freedom, and we have also given him assurance on what we are doing.
He recognises that we are doing a great job in ensuring that the Nigerian press is free and one of the freest around the world.”
Idris underscored the Tinubu administration’s dedication to enhancing media freedom, despite existing challenges.
“We are working on areas to ensure that all of us enjoy what is called press freedom, which is an important part of any viable democracy,” he said.
The partnership also focuses on combating misinformation and disinformation, with Idris stating, “We all believe collectively that there’s no way you can build a virile society when you promote fake news and don’t take the issue of misinformation and disinformation seriously.”
Ambassador Mills praised Nigeria’s efforts, saying, “We discussed ways of strengthening the existing relationship between the US and Nigeria, especially regarding press freedom and journalists’ rights.”
He acknowledged the global challenge of disinformation, noting that their discussions aimed to share strategies for addressing this critical issue.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step in fostering Nigeria’s more transparent and accountable media landscape.
