Date: 2021-07-28

The Federal Government has said it does not have the intention to gag the media and stifle the freedom of speech.

It assured that President Muhammadu Buhari would continue to provide the enabling environment for a robust media practice in Nigeria.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said this on Tuesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the opening of a two-day 2021 edition of the annual roundtable on cultural orientation by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).

He said: "Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, this government has no plans to muzzle the media. It appreciates the media as a strategic partner in our determination to foster the socio-economic and political development of our nation."

Represented by Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Segun Adeyemi, the minister explained that Federal Government's position on the regulation of the social media was for national interest and in line with global best practices.

Mohammed said the phenomenon of fake news and hate speeches, which has dominated the social media space, is detrimental to the nation's peace, security and national cohesion.

The minister said no responsible government would allow enemies of its country to use the media as a tool for destabilisation.

He urged the media to shun sensational reporting and avoid fake news.

According to him, sensitive reportage will help to prevent or de-escalate conflicts, as the case may be.

Speaking on the theme: Culture, Media and National Cohesion, Mohammed said the neglect of culture and the breakdown of cherished cultural values have contributed largely to the myriad challenges currently bedeviling the nation.

The minister said urgent and concerted efforts were required for cultural reconstruction and reawakening to achieve the much-desired socio political and economic progress.

"The other dimension of the theme of this conference is the role of the media in fostering national cohesion. The media is an indispensable institution in modern and democratic societies.

"As the fourth estate of the realm and watchdog of society with constitutional backing, the media has a pivotal role to play in the progress and well-being of society," he said. NICO Executive Secretary/CEO Ado M. Yahuza said the 2021 theme for the programme was selected to reemphasise the significance of culture and the media to socio-political and economic development of the nation.