By Emmanuel Obisue
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called on media organizations and journalists to adopt a more strategic and proactive communication approach to effectively counter disinformation, especially in matters of national security and foreign diplomacy.
Tuggar made the call in Abuja on Wednesday while declaring open the maiden International Conference on Diplomacy and Security organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, DICAN.
Represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Alkassim Abdulkadir, the minister noted that the era of reactive media responses is no longer sufficient in a digital landscape dominated by disinformation, misinformation, and geopolitical propaganda.
“Nigeria remains committed to supporting all meaningful initiatives that seek to combat disinformation and enhance the integrity of the information space,” Tuggar said. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes the crucial role of the media in shaping perceptions and advancing the country’s diplomatic objectives. That is why we are open to continued partnership with DICAN to promote professionalism, factual reporting, and capacity building for diplomatic correspondents,” he added.
Tuggar emphasized that deliberate investment in strategic communication would help build trust with development partners, improve Nigeria’s international image, and support the nation’s diplomatic efforts.
In his remarks, DICAN President Idehai Frederick called on diplomats and security agencies to engage more robustly with the media to promote accurate representation of their activities and policies. He stressed that closer collaboration with journalists is essential in confronting the growing wave of disinformation undermining global diplomacy and peace.
Similarly, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Abdulrahman Balogun, the commission’s spokesperson, urged journalists to educate Nigerians abroad on NIDCOM’s true mandate to curb misinformation, particularly about issues beyond the commission’s responsibility.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral I.M. Haruna, representing the Chief of Defence Staff, and DCP Kabiru Abdullahi from the Police Headquarters, both underscored the importance of joint efforts between security institutions and the media to combat fake news and transborder crimes.
The conference, which drew participants from the diplomatic corps, security agencies, academia, and media, served as a platform to explore the role of diplomacy, intelligence, and the press in addressing emerging global threats.
