By Emmanuel Obisue
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has urged independent broadcasters across the country to take up a stronger role in protecting Nigeria’s information space, strengthening national unity and fortifying digital security.
Tuggar, who was represented by the Ministry’s spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria, IBAN, said broadcasters remain “frontline defenders” of the nation’s narrative in an increasingly complex global media environment.
Addressing participants at the event, Tuggar noted that, “In an increasingly interconnected and complex global information space, the ability of a nation to control its narrative, protect its digital integrity, and unite its citizens is no longer a soft power preference—it is a strategic imperative. Undoubtedly, the independent broadcasters, are on the frontlines of this crucial endeavour”.
Tuggar described information sovereignty as the digital-era equivalent of territorial integrity, stressing that Nigeria must retain the capacity to tell its own stories and counter the damaging effects of foreign-sponsored disinformation. He praised broadcasters for investing in high-quality local content, noting that such efforts reaffirm the country’s cultural identity while asserting its global influence.
He further highlighted the crucial role of the media in promoting national cohesion, saying the airwaves remain a sacred trust in a diverse nation of over 230 million people. The Minister called on broadcasters to deploy their platforms responsibly by amplifying shared values and fostering dialogue capable of bridging divides.
On digital security, Tuggar warned that malicious cyber actors increasingly target national discourse, and urged broadcasters to enhance the protection of their digital infrastructure. According to him, securing broadcast platforms is both a corporate obligation and an issue of national security.
The Minister emphasized that Nigeria’s foreign policy strength is directly linked to the narratives shaped within its borders. “The narrative you build at home is the narrative we project abroad,” he said, calling for deeper collaboration between government and the broadcasting industry to safeguard the country’s information ecosystem.
He encouraged IBAN members to see themselves as vital partners in defending national interests at a time of widespread misinformation and distortions about Nigeria.
