Lai Mohammed, minister of culture and information, says
Nigeria is safer than it has been in recent times.
Mohammed said this on Tuesday during a ministerial panel
session at the ongoing UNESCO media and information literacy week, in Abuja.
Speaking on the terror alert recently issued by the US and
the UK, the minister said the warning issued by the foreign countries has
created panic, adding that it is not the true position of the security
situation in the country.
He also accused the media of publishing the news as
clickbait.
“Some media outlets
and social media personalities are usually caught spreading unverified
information on their platforms just for clickbait and the attendant monetary
gain,” he said.
“Talking of clickbait, this may be what informed the spread
of the supposed security alert issued recently by some foreign embassies in
Nigeria. One would imagine that if indeed this kind of security alert was
issued, it was for the attention of citizens of the issuing countries in
Nigeria.
“Suddenly, this alert found its way into the media, both new
and traditional, thus creating panic in the polity. Schools were shut;
businesses were closed; travel plans were altered; lives were disrupted. No one
cared to find out about the authenticity of these alerts.
“They just published,
got the benefit of massive clickbait and damned the consequences.
“Well, I can assure all that our military and other security
agencies have continued to do everything possible to secure and protect
Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria.
“Terrorists have been hard hit and put on the run. Bandits
have been decimated and scattered. Our country is safer today than at any time
in recent times, thanks to the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.
“We do not discountenance the fact that terrorists, bandits
and their kind would always want to do whatever it takes to disrupt our
nation’s peace, security and stability. But our security forces have been
proactive. Nigerians too should continue to be alert but must not panic. Like I
said in a recent statement, as far as insecurity is concerned, the worst is
over for Nigeria.”
He said the threat of disinformation to national and global
peace and stability is glaring, adding that people must join hands to address
the scourge of disinformation.
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