The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to show support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the face of economic hardship in the country.

Nigeria is battling harsh economic conditions with the cost of living hitting new highs and inflation rising to 29.90 percent.

But the Minister of  Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Malagi.

“Yes, we are having problems with food supply. The government has been working extremely hard to see how that can end. It’s not just doing that by a service, you know, inviting people in the sector, inviting the private sector and everybody,” he said on Thursday while speaking at the 50th anniversary of Punch Nigeria Limited.

“What we don’t want to do is surrender our agricultural sector or our economy to marauders who will come from outside this country and keep us perpetually down.

“So for as long as the government is listening to the people and reviewing its policies from time to time and ensuring that Nigerians have a better life. We urge you all to show support and understand what this government and who is at the forefront of that more than the media.

It was a hectic day in Lagos today as the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris engaged with several cadre of the media on the processes and progress of the many initiatives of the Federal government in the implementation of the renewed hope programme.

It was also a forum where the work of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) was intensely discussed giving the Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu a pedestal to speak about the programmes of the agency, especially the National Values Charter.

The Minister outlined the successes of government in the last nine months urging the media to show the positive narratives of the country including the good works of the present administration. For him, media support for the government has become imperative especially as it confronts the many real life challenges which the government inherited.

 CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

Since January 2024 when I served as a Rappoteur at a 5-day National Security Course on Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication, I have been fascinated with open and secret efforts of Intelligence services to ensure peace, safety and security of our fatherland.

Organised by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the programme was well attended by security personnel, scholars, journalists, traditional leaders and political office holders.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa was the keynote speaker while the Communication Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani and the Information Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi were among other dignitaries.

The contributions by other facilitators and participants from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), others from the Military and intelligence sectors gave delicate perspectives on the interaction between the open media and secret intelligence which has often been based on conflict and cooperation.

An inherent conflict exists between the open media that wish to publish security-related information as part of their responsibility towards the public and on the other hand the intelligence services which work on the basis of secrecy and often attempt to prevent publication of information on their activities and sources. Yet, both the media and intelligence services require information for their basic function and often discover that cooperation can provide important knowledge without harming security interests or operational capabilities.

The relationship between intelligence services and the media is multifaceted and often complex. The Media strive for transparency and accountability while intelligence services operate in secrecy due to their national security responsibilities.

It is therefore not surprising that responsible media operators are mindful of the fact that intelligence agencies are inherently secretive. Occasionally, reliable sources within the intelligence service provide credible and not speculative information to the media to enhance operational efficiency.

Journalists and intelligence services share a common interest in information even though the former accumulate legally permitted civil intelligence, while the latter target non-accessible, classified, and illegal data.

Unfortunately, sometimes, ordinary citizens and some commentators, out of ignorance or mischief, dish out misleading information to the public about intelligence services. Rather than protecting the public interest, such misinformation merely compromise national security.