The National Orientation Agency has urged religious leaders and stakeholders to support efforts to curb the spread of fake news and misinformation about Federal Government policies and programmes.
Ahmad Ibrahim, Director of NOA in Jigawa, made the appeal at a one-day advocacy meeting in Dutse focused on government policies, programmes, and activities. He emphasized that religious institutions provide a vital platform for delivering accurate information to grassroots communities, fostering patriotism, unity, and national development.
“We appeal to our religious leaders to champion the fight against fake news and misinformation associated with government policies, programmes and activities. Religious institutions can discourage followers from spreading false information while promoting accurate knowledge about government initiatives,” Ibrahim said.
He highlighted that the federal government has launched various economic recovery reforms designed to benefit all Nigerians, regardless of class, religion, or social status. Ibrahim noted that the rise of fake news, especially on social media, often prevents citizens from recognizing the benefits of such reforms, including the NELFUND programme which supports economic and entrepreneurial growth.
The director stressed that spreading unverified information can lead to social disintegration, chaos, or even communal crises.
Religious leaders present, including Sheikh Aminu Baba-Waziri and Pastor Alhamdu Kade, urged NOA to intensify public education on government policies, particularly the new tax reforms. Baba-Waziri called for increased efforts to promote patriotism and respect for leadership, while Kade emphasized the need to counter misinformation on social media.
The event featured presentations from representatives of various federal and state agencies, including the Nigeria Revenue Service, Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Federal Mortgage Bank, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Fire Service. Participants highlighted the need for NOA to strengthen citizen engagement and bridge knowledge gaps on government policies.
Leave a comment