The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned against allowing political competition and election-related activities to threaten Nigeria’s unity, saying the country would remain after every election.
“Elections will come and go; Nigeria will remain,” Idris said.
The minister gave the warning in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, during an event marking the reactivation of the Cross River Newspaper Corporation.
Idris urged journalists to guard against misinformation, hate speech, incitement and divisive narratives, warning that such practices could undermine national cohesion.
He also charged journalists to verify claims, avoid sensationalism and uphold professional ethics in their reporting.
According to him, the government, media and citizens have complementary roles in protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s information space and strengthening democracy.
Idris congratulated Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, the government and people of the state, as well as the management and staff of the Cross River Information Hub, on the reactivation of the Newspaper Corporation.
He expressed confidence that the revitalised institution would strengthen the state’s voice, preserve its history and promote truth and professionalism.
Speaking at the event, Otu said the reactivation of the corporation was part of his administration’s efforts to restore key state institutions and strengthen information management.
“Our vision is to restore the Newspaper Corporation by bringing together its rich heritage and institutional history with modern technology, so that it can once again play a strong role in informing the people and telling the Cross River story,” Otu said.
The governor added that the initiative would reposition the corporation to adapt to the changing media landscape while preserving the history and heritage of Cross River State.
