Why Buhari’s govt is working with foreign media -Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government has given reasons it is engaging foreign media organisations and networks in Nigeria

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while speaking in London after an engagement with the Royal African Society, said involvement of foreign media is to correct the negative narratives about Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

NAN reports Mohammed as saying that the engagement was to shape minds and opinions on the true position of insurgency in the North-East, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes and the achievements recorded by the Buhari administration which were being downplayed.

He said: “The whole idea of the trip is to engage foreign media organisations, networks and think tanks to actually explain the activities of government.

“As you were aware, we have been to the UK twice and the U.S. on this kind of mission.

“I think generally it has been quite fruitful because it offered us the platform and opportunity to explain to them what this government has achieved in the areas of security, fighting corruption and in revamping the economy.

“It also gives us the opportunity to disabuse the minds of the people about the insecurity in the North-East and how the government has succeeded in returning normalcy in affected areas.

“It offers us the opportunity to explain that the farmers/herdsmen clash is largely due to population explosion, climate change and criminality as against the naysayers’ position that it is ethnic or religious.

“Really, it has been quite helpful and we will continue with the engagements.”