Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said it is disheartening for the government that some Nigerians in Diaspora believe fake narratives about the country and also provide funds for secession agitations and activities.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
He noted that the secessionist groups that were campaigning around the world for their causes had key Nigerians in Diaspora backing their agenda against the government.
He said, “It is in recognition of the relevance of Nigerians in Diaspora that the secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world for their causes have identified and are effectively using some of them (Nigerians in Diaspora) to propagate their fake narratives about the country, in addition to relying on their financial contributions to fund their nefarious activities. This is disheartening.
“I therefore want to use this opportunity to appeal to NIDO to seize the initiative from those who are bent on painting Nigeria bad in the comity of nations. Yes, we have challenges, especially in the area of insecurity. But this administration has not only acknowledged these challenges, it is earnestly tackling them.
“Instead of contributing their own quota to these efforts, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in the Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalisation, human rights abuses, etc.
“On our part as government, we are currently re-engineering and ramping up our diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda.”
