In a stern address aimed at the rapidly changing landscape of digital journalism, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned that the unchecked spread of fake news and deliberate disinformation poses an existential threat to Nigeria’s national unity.
The minister issued the warning on Monday, July 6, 2026, while presenting the keynote address at the maiden edition of the Arewa Media Summit held in Kano. The high-level conference was convened under the theme “Government-Citizen Accord: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice”.
The Double-Edged Sword of the Smartphone
Minister Idris pointed out that while the ongoing digital revolution has democratized communication across Nigeria, it has introduced massive systemic vulnerabilities.
“The digital revolution has transformed communication, making every smartphone a broadcasting platform. However, the same technology has also increased the spread of fake news and disinformation capable of threatening national unity and public confidence,” Idris stated.
With information moving faster than ever, the minister emphasized that professional journalists and content creators hold a strict constitutional responsibility to ensure every published report is meticulously verified, balanced, and serves the collective public interest.
Denying Oxygen to Terrorists
A major highlight of the minister’s address focused on national security and the psychological impact of modern media reporting. Idris strongly urged conventional media houses and digital publishers to completely avoid granting undue publicity to bandits and terrorists through sensational headlines.
“The media has an indispensable role in denying violent extremists the publicity they seek while promoting unity, resilience and hope,” the minister re-emphasized. He noted that a healthy democracy relies on a highly transparent government, a responsibly participating citizenry, and a professional press core operating with unyielding integrity.
Eyes on the 2027 Elections
The summit’s convener, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz—who serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment—echoed the minister’s concerns. He noted that his office convened the summit specifically to act as a credible bridge between leadership and the public sphere.
Abdulaziz directed a targeted warning to social media influencers who command massive online audiences, charging them to remain incredibly responsible with their content as political activities begin to pick up ahead of the 2027 general elections. He revealed that ahead of the summit, the administration successfully trained over 100 APC social media communicators on how to transparently and effectively communicate government initiatives without resorting to divisiveness.
Kano Lead by Example: The Special Reporters Initiative
While officially declaring the summit open, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, threw his weight behind the call for enhanced public enlightenment.
Governor Yusuf called on other states across the federation to study and copy Kano’s homegrown Special Reporters Initiative. Under the unique state program, more than 150 well-trained young people have been actively deployed across various ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and the state’s 44 local government areas to optimize transparent government communication right from the grassroots.
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