Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture has announced that the federal government of Nigeria was presently engaging in positive and meaningful dialogue with allied countries, ECOWAS member states, and other international bodies in order to deal with the country’s security concerns in a resolute and appropriate way.
The fight against insecurity, he stressed, shouldn’t be left to the government entirely, and that all hands must be on deck if Victory is expected in the end.
The minister made these remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, (NICO), which hosted a two-day national convention on ‘Culture, Peace, and National Security and the Role of the Media’ yesterday in Kano State.
However, Mohammed, who was represented by Mrs. Memunat Idu-Lah, Director of International Cultural Relations in his ministry, reaffirmed the Muhammadu Buhari–led administration’s commitment to addressing the nation’s security issues.
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He noted: ‘Because this administration appreciates the fact that security challenges, such as we are confronted with currently, go beyond the capacity of individual countries to effectively handle. It is having constructive and meaningful engagement with friendly countries and collaborating with member states of ECOWAS and other regional blocks in order to effectively and decisively deal with insecurity in Nigeria.’
‘At this juncture, it is important to empathize that the war against insecurity should not be left for the government alone. All hands must be on deck if we want to win the war and overcome the security challenges which have become impediments to our national development aspiration.’
He urged media professionals to prioritize the national interest when doing their constitutionally mandated jobs and to avoid spreading false information that could aggravate the situation in the country.
Ado Yahuza, the executive secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), said earlier in his remarks that the media would act as a catalyst in the battle against insecurity in the nation by regularly sensitizing Nigerians. Yahuza also added that there can’t be growth in a place where there is conflict and lawlessness.
He said: ‘Previous editions of the conference focused on the role of traditional rulers, local government chairmen, women and youths. This year, the focus is on the media, a very important stakeholder in the promotion of culture of peace and non-violence in Nigeria.’
The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed his stressed his concern about the current Nigerian security and urged everyone to join in the fight against insurgency in the country; adding that the country is working with other nations to curb the effect of insecurity.
