By Deji Abdulwahab
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged political actors, media practitioners and citizens to place national unity above sectional, ethnic, religious and partisan interests.
Idris gave the advice on Thursday in Calabar during the official reactivation of the remodelled Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, popularly known as the Nigerian Chronicle.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly installed state-of-the-art Government Printing Press was also inaugurated to mark the transformation of the state’s information infrastructure.
The minister said the development represented an important step toward strengthening credible journalism, effective government communication and proper documentation in Cross River.
Idris noted that political activities were already intensifying ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging stakeholders to exercise responsibility in the way they communicate with the public.
He said the media and other stakeholders in the electoral process must resist misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, incitement and narratives capable of turning Nigerians against one another.
According to him, the 2027 elections will test not only the country’s political institutions but also the integrity and resilience of its information ecosystem.
“Indeed, as we approach the 2027 general elections, Nigerians should also have confidence in our democracy and in the institutions established to protect it,” Idris said.
He assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to ensuring a peaceful, credible and transparent electoral process.
He said the government would continue to support an electoral process in which the will of the Nigerian people was respected.
Idris stressed that relevant institutions must be allowed to discharge their constitutional responsibilities independently and professionally.
He explained that political competition was an essential component of democracy but must never be allowed to become an excuse for dividing the country.
“Elections will come and go; Nigeria will remain,” he said.
The minister therefore appealed to political actors, media practitioners and citizens to put the interest of the nation above sectional, ethnic, religious or partisan considerations.
He urged stakeholders to avoid narratives deliberately designed to create hatred, suspicion and division among Nigerians.
Idris said journalists had an important responsibility to interrogate claims, verify information before publication and resist pressure to sacrifice accuracy for speed or sensationalism.
He maintained that political affiliation must never be allowed to displace professional judgement in journalism.
According to him, the government has a responsibility to explain its policies clearly and honestly, while citizens have the right to ask questions and demand accountability.
He added that the media also had a responsibility to report fairly, accurately and professionally.
The minister said the responsibilities of government, citizens and the media were complementary rather than contradictory.
“We may not always agree, but government and the media share a responsibility to the Nigerian people and to the truth,” he said.
Idris emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Federal Government and subnational institutions in strengthening Nigeria’s information ecosystem.
He said the Federal Government could not effectively communicate with a country as large and diverse as Nigeria without strong partnerships with state governments, local institutions, community leaders and the media.
The minister expressed encouragement over the steps being taken by the Cross River Government to strengthen its information infrastructure across broadcasting, print, digital communication and government documentation.
He described the transformation of the Nigerian Chronicle and the establishment of the Cross River Information Hub as an opportunity to reposition the state’s information sector.
Idris urged the management and staff of the new Information Hub to utilise the facilities effectively and ensure that the investment produced the desired results.
He said modern equipment alone could not guarantee effective journalism without professionalism, competent journalists, skilled operators and sound management.
“The best equipment cannot replace professionalism. A modern newsroom cannot succeed without credible journalists,” he said.
He added that a printing press could not fulfil its purpose without skilled operators and effective management.
The minister urged the Cross River Government to sustain its investment in the training and retraining of journalists, editors, printers, communication professionals and technical personnel.
He also advised young journalists and communication professionals working in the institution to embrace technology without abandoning professional standards.
Idris urged journalists to be fast but accurate, competitive but ethical, stressing that credibility remained one of the most valuable assets in the media industry.
“Above all, guard your credibility. Public trust, once lost, is difficult to regain,” he said.
He said the transformation of the Cross River information infrastructure formed part of a broader national conversation on the future of information management and journalism in Nigeria.
According to him, traditional media organisations must embrace digital platforms and develop innovative ways of reaching younger audiences.
He said government communication must also become more responsive, while stakeholders must improve their capacity to confront misinformation, disinformation and emerging challenges associated with artificial intelligence.
Idris said the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation remained ready to work with Cross River and other states to strengthen institutions connecting governments with citizens.
He said Nigeria needed a communication system that was modern but responsible, fast but accurate, and innovative while remaining firmly rooted in professional ethics.
The minister commended Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River for modernising the state’s information infrastructure.
He said investment in credible journalism and effective public communication was critical to combating misinformation and strengthening public trust.
Idris described the transformation of the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation as more than the renovation of buildings and installation of modern equipment.
He said it represented the restoration of an important public institution and a renewed commitment to credible journalism, institutional memory and effective communication.
“The decision of the Cross River State Government to rebuild and reposition this institution, rather than allow it to disappear into history, deserves commendation,” he said.
Idris recalled that the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, established in 1971, had for decades documented the affairs of the government and people of the state through publications including the Nigerian Chronicle and Weekend Chronicle.
He said the transformation of the corporation into the Cross River Information Hub should usher in a new era in which its rich heritage would be combined with digital technology.
According to him, the institution should become a centre for credible journalism, innovation, professional development and meaningful public engagement.
Idris said the information environment had changed dramatically, with news travelling instantly through newspapers, radio, television, websites and social media platforms.
He noted that artificial intelligence was also reshaping the ways information was produced, processed and distributed.
The minister, however, cautioned that technological advancement and speed must never displace the fundamental values of journalism.
“The faster information travels, the greater the premium we must place on verification,” he said.
He added that technology could change the tools of journalism but could not replace truth, accuracy, fairness and professional judgement.
Idris said credible journalism remained one of Nigeria’s strongest defences against misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and other forms of information disorder capable of undermining public trust and national cohesion.
He also welcomed the inauguration of the modern Government Printing Press, describing proper documentation and preservation of official records as essential to institutional memory and responsible governance.
“A government that does not preserve its records risks losing its history; a people who do not document their journey leave others to tell their story,” he said.
The minister said rebuilding public trust in government communication remained central to the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, particularly as the Tinubu administration implements reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said government must communicate its policies clearly and honestly, explain difficult decisions, acknowledge challenges and remain responsive to citizens, stressing that public trust could not be commanded but must be earned.
In his remarks, Otu recalled that during his first media parley after assuming office, he had promised to promote the free flow of information between government and citizens.
He said his administration had also pledged to revitalise every information asset in the state and strengthen communication channels to enable them to deliver on their mandates.
Otu said his administration had fulfilled part of the promise by upgrading the transmission equipment of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, comprising the state radio and television stations.
He added that his administration had also given the office blocks a facelift as part of efforts to improve the working environment for media professionals.
The governor said the revitalisation of the state’s information infrastructure demonstrated his administration’s commitment to ensuring effective communication between government and the people.
Former Governor of Cross River, Chief Clement Ebri; Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem; and Chief Judge of the state, Justice Akon Ikpeme, attended the event.
Also present were the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dili Ezughah, among other dignitaries.(NAN)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi