Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, is seeking a social contract with the Nigerian media in order to achieve the ministry’s drive to make the media landscape friendly for the practitioners.
Idris said at a media parley with editors, Online publishers and other stakeholders on Friday in Lagos that he was determined to successfully execute the tenets of his ministry’s five pillars, which include restoring the peoples’ trust in government, ampliphying the policies and programmes of government and reorientation of the national character and values.
Others are organization and provision of technology for development in the media industry and providing the enabling environment for media practice in the country.
The minister announced that the National Orientation Agency of the ministry will be revamped to promote the collective interests of all Nigerians.
On the removal of petrol subsidy by the government and the hardship in the country, the ministry appealed for understanding by Nigerians as the nation was subsidizing petrol for people outside its shores and that the administration of President Bola Tinubu inherited an economy that was in a bad shape.
The minister hinted that a new energy policy will soon be announced by the government that will bring about succor to the people.
He lamented that most of the activities of the government were not being published and urged the editors and Online publishers to assist in informing Nigerians on so many of the achievements of the federal government.
The minister disclosed that the federal government has attracted $30 billion worth of foreign direct investments.
He added that a Brazilian firm is planning a $240 million drug factory that will crash the prices of drugs in the country, while a Spanish firm is investing millions of dollars in tomatoes factory in Kebbi State in northern Nigeria.
On Students Loan Scheme, the minister said that the programme was set for take- off soon and that the restructuring of the country was already taking shape with the proposal for state police.
On the issue of security, the minister assured that the federal government tackling the menace and that new strategies would soon be announced by government.
GIK/APA
Nigeria’s Information Minister seeks social contract with media to achieve mandate
