ABUJA: The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to agencies and paramilitary services under the Ministry of Interior, cautioning them against disseminating false information and declaring an end to the era of information hoarding.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo delivered this charge at the Ministry’s Media Masterclass 2025 in Abuja, themed ‘Beyond Press Statements: Media as a tool for Public Engagement.’
He emphasized that agency heads and their information officers must be truthful and empathetic in their interactions with Nigerians.
While commending the officers for their dedication, the Minister urged them to step up and justify the taxpayers’ money spent on them, stressing that they are not doing Nigerians a favor.
“To our Public Relations Officers, you can always communicate satisfactorily to the people without lies. Communication is a function of trust,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo stated.
He acknowledged the complementary role of social media to traditional media, advocating for a convergence point between the two.
The Minister highlighted the Ministry’s responsibilities, including citizenship integrity, internal security, border protection, and critical national assets.
“The simple truth is that the era of hoarding information is gone. Say the truth to people but say it in a way that appreciates the effort you are putting in,” he advised.
He further emphasized the importance of empathy in reporting, especially when dealing with incidents involving loss of life.
“Always report stories from a point of empathy because you are being paid taxpayers’ money. You are not doing Nigerians a favor. Always have that in mind,” he reiterated, citing instances where he had to call out press statements lacking empathy”, he said.
Dr Tunji-Ojo also urged the officers to build strong teams, noting that media work is not a solo endeavor. “You should have your facts right. Be a walking encyclopedia of your agencies,” he added.
The Minister shared a recent example of an inmate, flagged by the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS through its Correctional Information Management System, who was arrested by the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS while attempting to acquire an international passport.
Despite the officers involved being suspended and interrogated three weeks prior, information about the incident only filtered out later.
“So, what would have been a promotional story for the government ended up in a way that we were now on the defensive because we did not communicate appropriately to the public in time,” he lamented, underscoring the critical need for timely information dissemination.
Earlier, Babatunde Alao, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, explained that the workshop aimed to strengthen the media and public relations departments of the agencies under the Ministry.
He stressed the importance for agencies to leverage digital media for storytelling and visualizing press statements, ultimately owning and efficiently telling their own narratives.
Ten participants from each of the services, including the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration, and Correctional Services Board, and the Ministry’s Press Directorate, attended the masterclass.
