The Federal Government has urged communication and media professionals to adopt truth-based public relations strategies to counter what it described as false and malicious propaganda portraying Nigeria as a country persecuting Christians.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Monday in Abuja during the National Unveiling of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF Abuja 2026). He warned that Nigeria faces “existential reputational threats” from foreign actors who deliberately distort facts to divide the nation.
“We must come to terms with reputational threats to our national brand, where external purveyors of falsehood are mischaracterizing our nation as a place of religious persecution,” the Minister said. “For the umpteenth time, I affirm there is no truth in the claim of a ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria.”
Idris described the ongoing disinformation campaign as a coordinated attempt to undermine Nigeria’s unity and called for a collective communication response rooted in facts, ethics, and national interest.
“I therefore urge practitioners to use public relations, built on truth and facts, to reject these despicable false narratives about Nigeria,” he said.
Highlighting the dangers of misinformation in the digital era, the Minister observed that “words now travel faster than thought, and opinions often outrun truth.” He stressed the need for responsible communication guided by empathy and service to the public good.
Linking his remarks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Idris noted that the administration’s vision seeks to rebuild trust between the government and citizens through openness and engagement.
“As host of the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum 2026, Nigeria is taking its rightful place as a leader in global communication ethics,” he said, describing the event as a milestone under President Tinubu’s leadership.
The Minister commended the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (GA), led by Professor Justin Green, and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), under Dr. Ike Neliaku, for securing Nigeria’s hosting rights.
He called on all communicators, journalists, and public officers to embrace truth and transparency in their work.
“Let this unveiling be a call to conscience — to practitioners: hold the line of truth; to the media: inform with integrity; to public officers: communicate with transparency; and to citizens: speak with empathy,” Idris said.
He expressed optimism that WPRF Abuja 2026, themed “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” will redefine Nigeria’s global image as a champion of ethical and responsible communication.
