In a bid to curb the surge of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism across Nigeria, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has underscored the pivotal significance of patriotism and nationalism.
He made this known when General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, paid him a courtesy visit.
Idris emphasized that instilling a sense of patriotism and fostering national identity among citizens are essential strategies to counter the wave of criminal activities that have plagued the country.
He highlighted the pressing need to reclaim eroded values and fortify the unity of Nigerians, emphasizing a collective effort toward prosperity and peace.
“The concept of nationalism, nationhood, and patriotism must return, for us to have the unity and prosperity that all of us seek. We have seen a gradual erosion of our values – those values need to be reclaimed and we have to recover our senses as Nigerians.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and see where we got it wrong with the aim of getting it right this time around.
“I thank you so much for coming. We think that the collaboration that you require is for all of us to come together so that we fight insurgency and forge unity, development, and peace in this country. There is no way you can successfully fight this war without a frontal role for the Nigerian Media and Nigerians themselves,” he said.
Expressing gratitude for the visit, Idris stressed the Ministry’s responsibility in managing and reshaping the country’s narrative, especially amid the adverse impact of violent crimes on Nigeria’s image.
He underscored the critical role of information management in the fight against insurgency and proposed collaboration between the Ministry and the Military to bolster national security and enhance the country’s reputation.
He also unveiled plans for a national rebirth campaign in the upcoming year.
“Some of those things that we are talking about will take centre stage early next year when the President, hopefully, will lead the campaign of national rebirth. We want to talk about this concept of citizenship again,” he said.
In response, General Christopher Musa echoed the importance of collaboration, emphasizing the need to forge synergy between the Military and the media.
“This is part of the lines of operations that we are conducting to build synergy between the Armed Forces and members of the public and there is nowhere to start better than where information emanates from,” he said.
He emphasized the collective responsibility of Nigerians in supporting efforts against insurgency, terrorism, and banditry.
General Musa further underlined the significance of strategic communication in influencing individuals to surrender arms, noting that approximately 140,000 terrorists have voluntarily surrendered to the Military.
He also highlighted the shift in the motives behind violent crimes, indicating an economic inclination toward kidnappings and banditry.
