The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • Lai Mohammed mourns ex-EFCC chairman Lamorde

    Lai Mohammed mourns ex-EFCC chairman Lamorde

    Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), DIG Ibrahim Lamorde (rtd), emphasising the significant impact of his passing.

    In a statement, the former Minister reflected on their professional interactions.

    Mohammed recounted their collaboration during a crucial period when the Federal Government was engaged in a legal battle with Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) in London. 

    “Lamorde was clear headed and shared the same vision with me that the P&ID saga would not only be won in the court of law but also in the court of public opinion,” Mohammed said. 

    He praised Lamorde’s substantial contributions to drafting talking points and articulating positions that were instrumental during engagements with the media and think tanks in London. 

    “Lamorde’s keen insights, deep institutional knowledge, and strategic acumen ensured that the messages were clear, impactful, and aligned with national interests”, Mohammed said.

    Mohammed highlighted that Lamorde’s death is a tremendous loss, not only to his family and colleagues but also to the nation as a whole.

    Extending his heartfelt condolences, Mohammed expressed his sympathy to Lamorde’s family and colleagues in the Nigeria Police Force and the EFCC. 

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” Mohammed concluded.

  • Lai Mohammed mourns Oba Olusokun II

    Lai Mohammed mourns Oba Olusokun II

    Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has expressed sadness over the death of His Royal Majesty, Elerin of Erin Ile, Oba AbdulGaniyu Ajibola Olusokun II, a First Class Monarch in Kwara.

    He said: “It is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing of His Royal Majesty, Elerin of Erin Ile, Oba AbdulGaniyu Ajibola Olusokun II, a First Class Monarch in Kwara State.”

    According to the ex-minister, his reign of 41 years was marked with dedicated service, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

    “Oba AbdulGaniyu Ajibola Olusokun II was not only an upright and principled leader but also a beacon of compassion and wisdom. His unwavering commitment to his people and his community will forever be remembered.

    Read Also: Tinubu most gender-friendly president since independence – APC women leaders

    ““Let me express my condolences to the people of Erin Ile, Kwara State, and Nigeria over this monumental loss, and may we find solace in the enduring legacy of Oba AbdulGaniyu Ajibola Olusokun II.

    “He lived a fulfilled life of service to God and humanity and may his spirit of compassion and wisdom continue to guide all of us.

    “I prayed God to grant him eternal rest and also give the people Erin Ile the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” Mohammed said in a statement he signed.

  • How fake news shaped public perception of former ministers, by Lai Mohammed

    How fake news shaped public perception of former ministers, by Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria’s immediate past minister of information, culture, Lai Mohammed, has argued that the public opinion of former ministers was being impacted by fake news propagation.

    The former minister stated this yesterday on TVC’s “Good Morning” programme while he discussed his transitioning from being in government to the private sector.

    He characterised the first few months of the former President Muhammad Buhari’s two-term administration to have been marked by intense disinformation, particularly concerning ministers. 

    He said: “There’s this public perception of former ministers and this is no thanks to fake news and disinformation. 

    “You’ll recall that very early in the administration, there were a lot of fake news about how much money ministers had sauntered into their private accounts all over the world. Unfortunately, some people believed this even when it looked so unreasonable. 

    According to the ex-minister, he was accused of having $1.3 billion in his private account overseas even though the total capital budget during his service years wasn’t more than N10 billion.

    “For instance, I was supposed to be having about $1.3 billion in my private account in the US and when they had to discuss with some few people about you know what it means to have 1.3 billion US dollars? It means that if – at best my capital budget throughout my eight years never exceeded N10 billion. 

    Read Also: Lai Mohammed mourns ex-lawmaker Rafiu Ibrahim

    “Now, it will take me 52 years at N400 to a dollar to make $1.3 billion. Today, it will take me more than 150 years. But these are the kinds of things that people bandied about and then of course, people who believe it start putting so much pressure on you thinking that you have money and can help them.”

    However, sharing his transition from government to private sector, Mohammed admitted it has been quite a smooth one noting he no longer had to deal with compulsory appearances and work-related pressures.

    He emphasised that being a minister provided invaluable lessons that Ivy League institutions may be incapable of imparting.

    “There’s a difference of what it was a year ago to what it is today in my personal life. Today, I don’t have to worry about every Wednesday, there’s going to be FEC meeting. I don’t need to hold strategic sessions with my aides. I don’t need to meet as regularly as I used to meet the media, either the bureau chiefs. I don’t need the kind of regular appearances in the media that I had to make compulsorily. 

    “So to a certain extent, the pressure is much less. Whatever pressure I’m in today is self-made and created. But there are a lot of useful lessons to learn from having served eight years in government and transiting into private life.

    “I think the first is that no matter how long you stay in government, you’ll come back and meet the people one day. So after eight years, I’m glad that I didn’t find it too difficult to re-enter the private sector. 

    “But there are a few lessons you’ll learn. The first is, you see, what you learn as a minister for eight years, they don’t teach it in Harvard or Yale; I think that will be a story for another day,” the former minister added.

  • Lai Mohammed mourns ex-lawmaker Rafiu Ibrahim

    Lai Mohammed mourns ex-lawmaker Rafiu Ibrahim

    Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has expressed deep regret over the demise of a former Kwara South Senator,  Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim.

    Ibrahim transitioning was announced in a statement yesterday.

    In a statement by the former minister, on Thursday in Abuja, described Ibrahim as quintessential gentleman, whose unwavering dedication and commitment to public service were evident.

    The statement reads in part: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, who represented my Senatorial District of Kwara South in the Senate between 2015 and 2019.

    “I convey my deepest condolences to the family, friends, constituents, and colleagues of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim on his untimely passing.

    “He was a quintessential gentleman, whose unwavering dedication and commitment to public service were evident throughout his tenure as a Distinguished Senator of the Republic. 

    Read Also: Lai Mohammed seeks partnership with NCDMB

    “His relentless pursuit of progress for Nigeria and Kwara State in particular has left an indelible mark on our nation’s political landscape. He will be sorely missed. 

    “During this time of mourning, our thoughts and prayers are with Senator Ibrahim’s loved ones as they navigate this difficult period of loss.

    “May they find solace in the fond memories of his remarkable life and the enduring legacy he leaves behind. I prayed to God to repose his soul and grant him eternal rest.”

  • Social media regulation necessary to tackle fake news, anarchists, others- Lai Mohammed

    Social media regulation necessary to tackle fake news, anarchists, others- Lai Mohammed

    Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has called for the regulation of social media to tackle anti-state groups, anarchists and other harmful entities in the country. 

    Mohammed emphasised the need for stricter oversight of social media platforms to prevent them from being exploited by those seeking to undermine the government and incite violence

    He noted that his call is not an attempt to stifle freedom of expression or censor dissenting voices, but a step geared towards ensuring that the social media platforms are held accountable.

    Mohammed, who is also the Managing Partner of Bruit Cosaud, a policy advisory firm, made the call at the iRepresent International Documentary Festival, which forms part of activities to mark the 90th birthday anniversary of Prof. Wole Soyinka, in Lagos on Friday.

    The theme of the event was “Disinformation and misinformation: The media in the age of discontent”.

    He said: “Let me state here that I support the calls for the regulation of Social Media. However, regulation of social media should not be misconstrued as an attempt to stifle freedom of expression or censor dissenting voices. 

    “Rather, it should be viewed as a necessary step to ensure that these platforms operate in a manner that is responsible, ethical, and conducive to the well-being of society.”

    Mohammed further urged the current administration to take action against social media companies that allow misleading information to circulate unchecked.

    According to Mohammed, the unchecked spread of fake news and hate speech on social media has become a serious threat to national security, with anti-state groups using these platforms to spread propaganda and incite public unrest. 

    He warned that this trend could have dire consequences for the stability of the country and called for decisive action to address the issue.

    He noted that social media remains a major space for proliferation of fake news, adding that the consequences of disinformation and misinformation are far-reaching in the sense of undermining democratic processes, among others. 

    His words: “Social media remains the platform of choice for the purveyors of fake news, anti-state groups, anarchists, secessionists, terrorists and bandits. It’s either on Facebook, Instagram, X, etc. With a smartphone and data, people can broadcast whatever they want with ease. 

    “Similarly, through technology and inventions, the challenge has even become exponential through the use of Artificial Intelligence and deep learning techniques to create highly realistic fake or manipulated videos, audio recordings or images.  

    “These creations often involve superimposing existing images or videos onto other contents, making it appear as though individuals are saying or doing things they never did. This is era of deepfake! 

    “There is no doubt that the proliferation of digital media platforms has transformed the landscape of information dissemination the world over. While these platforms have democratised access to information, they have also provided fertile ground for the spread of falsehoods and manipulation. 

    “The rapid circulation of misinformation, fueled by algorithms designed to maximize engagement, has led to a crisis of trust in traditional media institutions.

    “The consequences of disinformation and misinformation are far-reaching. They undermine democratic processes, sow discord within communities, and pose significant threats to public health and safety. False narratives surrounding elections can trigger legitimacy problems for the winner. 

    Read Also: Lai Mohammed seeks partnership with NCDMB

    “There were conspiracy theories fueling vaccine hesitancy as witnessed during the COVID 19 pandemic among other consequences of fake news. The impact of misinformation can be devastating, exacerbating existing fault-lines and hindering collective action.”

    He made efforts to clear the air on whybthe Buhari-led administration suspended the services of Twitter, now X, stating that the move was to checkmate the nefarious activities of some groups bent on promoting anarchy. 

    According to him: “We were compelled to suspend the services of Twitter, now X, when it became evident that Twitter had yielded its platform to proscribed groups, who were bent on promoting anarchy and destabilizing the country”. 

  • Lai Mohammed seeks partnership with NCDMB

    Lai Mohammed seeks partnership with NCDMB

    Immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said his firm is willing to partner with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on strategic communication, executive training and others.

    The former minister made this known yesterday when he led a delegation of the firm, Bruit Costaud, affiliate of Ballard Partners USA, including a senior consultant, Government Affairs, Olajumoke Bamigbola, to the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr Simbi Gesiye Wabote, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    He said the visit to the NCDMB Tower, where he described as a ‘Hidden Jewel of Nigeria’, was in a bid to bolster strategic communication, policy advocacy, and research initiatives.

    Mohammed said: “Well, I came here to formally introduce our firm of policy advisory consultants to the Board and because what we do at our firm is to actually try to create a platform that would make the public and the private sector talk to one another rather than talk at one another.”

    “Our experience both in government, in the media and the private sector has shown that there is that yawning gap between policy and implementation largely due to the distrust that is harboured by both parties and then we believe that there is the need also to amplify the positive achievements of our organisations.

    “When I made my presentation this evening, I dwelt more on what the Board, that is the NCDMB, would be able to achieve in ensuring that Nigerians actually take hold of the industry. The various partnership with the private sector either in modular oil refineries or gas processing or  cylinder manufacturing, or even in parks.

    Read Also: Lai Mohammed visits Edun, seeks FG patronage on strategic communication

    “So, we believe that there is a need to support the excellent work already being done by the Communications Department of the Board by us trying to amplify it better.

    “But there is another area that we believe is important, that is making the NCDMB the go-to organisation when it comes indigenising the industry and I am glad that the Executive Secretary also told us of his experience in Namibia  where he went to present the paper and today  it will appear as if now that is going to be the template that other countries would use in trying to get their own nationals to take possession of their own industry.

    “So basically what we do at BC is to bring the private sector and the public sector together and improve the use of doing business index overall.”

    On area of collaboration with the board, the ex-Minister said the firm would want to partner them in the areas of strategic communications, strategic maping and executive training.

    He noted: “We have this ongoing agreement with the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) whereby we take advantage of their own in-built executive capacity building to extend to some of our clients. We also believe that in the area of corporate diplomacy, we can be very useful to the Board.”

    On how he would cope with the private sector having spent much of his life in the public service, Mohammed said: “I realize that in the last 25 years of my life, I have either been in government, in the media or in politics. So, what I do now is just try to look at how I can reach out with my colleagues,  leverage on those contacts, experiences, expertise and influence to ensure that Nigeria is a better place.”

    On his part, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, said the Board was ready to partner with BC.

    He thanked the team for the visit, saying they had come at the right time when Nigeria is transiting from from one administration to the other.

    He said: “This development creates a lot of gaps with regard to our communications channel in terms of mapping the stakeholders and being able to communicate clearly and we have no doubt that an organisation like yours would need help in areas like that.”

  • Federal Govt: Atiku gave false evidence at tribunal

    THE dust generated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Wednesday victory at the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) is yet to settle.

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which lost along with its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said “the victory will be short-lived” because the Supreme Court would quash it.

    But, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and the Federal Government said the PDP’s appeal will be an exercise in futility.

    Defeat awaits the PDP at the apex court, Oshiomhole added.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who congratulated Buhari after the verdict, has explained his action.

    He said it was better to offer public congratulations than to visit the President at night.

    Wike said that unlike some PDP governors who visit President Buhari at night, he made his declaration public because it came from the heart.

    Also, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the PDP and Atiku should be prosecuted for presenting “fraudulent evidence”, before the tribunal.

    Speaking on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Russia, he said the PDP and its candidate should apologise to Nigerians instead of appealing the verdict.

    The minister recommended the PDP and its candidate for prosecution.

    He said they deserved to be prosecuted for allegedly presenting fraudulent evidence before the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC), which on Wednesday threw out their appeal and affirmed President Buhari’s election.

    In a statement, the minister urged the PDP and Atiku to drop the idea of approaching the Supreme Court to seek redress.

    Mohammed is leading the Nigerian delegation to the 23rd General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

    The statement was signed by his media aide, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, and made available to reporters on Thursday in Abuja.

    It reads: “Instead of casting aspersion on the judiciary with their poorly-framed reaction to the ruling of the tribunal, the PDP and its candidate should be thanking their stars that they are not being prosecuted for coming to court with fraudulently-obtained evidence.

    “It is intriguing that a party that trumpets the rule of law at every turn will present, in an open court, evidence it claimed to have obtained by hacking into a supposed INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) server.

    “Don’t they realise this is a criminal act for which they are liable?

    “Instead of threatening to head to the Supreme Court, driven more by ego than common sense, they should be sorry for allowing desperation to overwhelm their sense of reasoning. Enough is enough,” Mohammed, who is UNWTO’s Vice President (Africa), said.

    The minister said Atiku and the PDP should apologise to Nigerians for wilfully distracting the President Buhari administration with a frivolous election petition, instead of appealing Wednesday’s ruling.

    He noted that while the PDP and its candidate reserve the right to pursue their petition to the highest level, “they would be better served by dropping their toga of desperation and realising that there is a limit to tomfoolery.

    “Nigerians are tired of this orchestrated distraction, and will rather wish that the opposition, having lost at the polls and in court, will now join hands with the government to move Nigeria to the next level.

    “This is more so that the judgement validating the re-election of President Buhari was unanimous that the petition lacked merit; that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds upon which their case was anchored and that President Buhari is eminently qualified to contest the poll.”

    The minister praised the tribunal for not only doing justice to the case, but for explaining, in painstaking details that lasted hours, how it arrived at its judgment.

    “We also thank Nigerians, who voted massively to re-elect President Buhari, for their continued support,” he said.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke with reporters at the State House in Abuja, expressed optimism that no surprise would come out from the Supreme Court since the judges “are most likely to rely on the Appeal Court’s ruling”

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory: SANs hail Tribunal’s verdict

    The APC chair accompanied APC women leaders from the national, zonal and 36 states of the federation to a meeting with President Buhari.

    The women were led by the APC National Women’s Leader, Hajia Salamatu Umar-Eluma, to congratulate the President on his victory at the tribunal and to thank him for appointing seven women into his 43-member cabinet.

    Oshiohmole said: “We as a party are confident that if it is within the Nigerian law for PDP to go even to the world court, we will meet them there. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is not that of PDP or the APC, the Supreme Court is governed by law and is to interpret the evidence before the Court of Appeal.

    “They are not at liberty to introduce new issues neither can they bring in new witnesses. So, if it is what I heard yesterday which I believe you also heard, thanks to the media, most Nigerians were detained for eight hours listening to arguments of the judges one after the other.

    “Even though we thought it was getting longer and longer, we realised that they tried to deal with the issues raised, even the ones you and I as a layman will consider consequential, they dealt with each of them, trashed them and arrived at a conclusion.

    “So, I don’t want to sound arrogant. Yesterday (Wednesday), I said that I hope this whole contestation is about Nigeria who actually won the election and both parties are committed to building Nigeria and is not about who should be given the key.

    “Now, this has been resolved and it is time to queue behind the winner and move on. Our winner is the best example that losing election is not tantamount to the end of your political life. He lost three and today he is the President.

    “But, when I see the arrogance with which they pronounce and they bring what I call television lawyers, who pronounced with some managerial finality as if they are judges even without any evidence before them, let me now say authoritatively, we are now ready to meet them.

    “President Buhari is now ready to meet defeated Atiku Abubakar at the Supreme Court and the APC is ready to meet the PDP at the Supreme Court and Adams Oshiomhole is ready to meet my brother Secondus at the Supreme Court and he will take second and I will take first, Isha Allah.”

    The APC chair insisted that they were not in doubt that victory would come their way.

    According to him, the “PDP just seems to blackmail every institution so that their candidate can become the president even if it is not the will of the Nigerian people”.

    Oshiomhole said the PDP and its presidential candidate “reduced the election to social media speculations and bringing sources that are laughable even at beer parlour conversations.”

    The PDP urged the APC not to rejoice yet over the Appeal Court ruling, which it believed would soon be upturned.

    Its spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan, urged Mohammed to be cautious in celebrating the judgment, saying that “his gloating will be short-lived”.

    According to the opposition party, Wednesday’s ruling by the PEPC was a direct miscarriage of justice that cannot stand at the Supreme Court.

    The PDP said given the weight of the evidence against President Buhari and the APC, the Appeal Court judgment will be upturned by the Supreme Court.

    The statement by the spokesman said: “Those celebrating this attempt to corrupt our justice system as well as the brazen approval of a clear case of perjury are directly telling Nigerians something about their conscience and character.

    “Our party is not surprised that Lai Mohammed, speaking for the Buhari administration, came short of calling for the arrest and prosecution of opposition members for coming before the Appeal Court, a situation which exposed their belief that they own the court and can determine the position of the judiciary on any matter.

    “Notwithstanding, the PDP holds that Nigerians have seen the ‘several errors’ in the judgment delivered by the Appeal Court and have turned the verdict to a butt of jokes in public space.

    “We invite Lai Mohammed to tell Nigerians if his Law degree was awarded to him on the basis of a sworn affidavit and pictures of his classmates; or was his Call to Bar at the Nigerian Law School also based on presentation of pictures and affidavit?”

    The PDP accused the APC-led administration of manipulating the process, saying: “This is more the reason the PDP stands with Nigerians in heading to the Supreme Court to uphold justice in the matter and salvage our nation from this drift towards impunity, anarchy and lawlessness”.

    The party urged the minister to explain his role alleged N2.5 billion “fraud” at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

  • Xenophobia: Fed Govt warns against attacks on foreigners

    THE Federal Government on Thursday warned hoodlums and miscreants who are attacking foreigners and business premises over Xenophobia clashes in South Africa.

    It added that some unscrupulous people were engaging in disinformation to inflame passion by using fake news and videos of non-related attacks.

    The government said hoodlums have hijacked the peaceful protests by some Nigerians to loot shops at Shoprite and other malls in some locations across the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed warned those attacking foreigners, including South Africans, to desist or face justice.

    He said: “Of course, a number of other measures are also being considered by the government to keep Nigerians in South Africa safe. But the purpose of this press conference is to reiterate the appeal to Nigerians, who are justifiably angered by the attacks on their compatriots in South Africa, not to resort to self-help by carrying out reprisal attacks against South African businesses in Nigeria; to alert Nigerians to the fact that some unscrupulous people are engaging in disinformation to inflame passion by using fake news and videos of non-related attacks; to very strongly warn the naysayers and hoodlums who might want to capitalize on the widespread disenchantment and anger of Nigerians over the attacks in South Africa to foment mayhem, and to appeal to Nigerians, especially opinion leaders, not to allow raw emotions to guide their response to the attacks.

    “ I will take the issues one by one, starting with the attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria. Reports of these attacks, which have dominated the social and traditional media in the past two days, are quite disturbing and depressing. Obviously, hoodlums have hijacked the peaceful protests by some Nigerians to loot shops at Shoprite and other Malls in some locations across the country.

    “ A Nigerian lady whose shop was looted at the Novare Mall in Lagos said she lost millions of naira to the hoodlums who looted her shop. The offices of the MTN nationwide have either been attacked or threatened. Other South African firms have either shut their doors or are open under heavy security.

    “As we said in our intervention on Tuesday, Nigerians own and run the shops in the various Shoprite malls across the country. Nigerians work there also. MTN is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the investors in this company are Nigerians. The workers are mostly Nigerians. Same applies to other South African businesses in the country. By attacking them, we are hurting our own people. That is the blunt truth.

    “Some hoodlums have also targeted foreigners under the guise of protesting against the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. This is saddening.

    Read Also: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots

    “If we are complaining that South Africans are attacking Nigerians in South Africa, how then can we tolerate Nigerians attacking  Nigerians and foreigners right here in Nigeria? What purpose do such attacks serve, other than for Nigerians to lose their investments and jobs?

    “Must we cut our nose to spite our face? It is in this light that I want to assure all Nigerians, and indeed foreigners living in Nigeria, that the Federal Government has put in place adequate security measures to protect the lives and property of all.

    “The security agencies have been put on high alert, and looters will be arrested and made to face justice.”

    Mohammed said it was unfortunate that some Nigerians had been using old video clips to instigate some hoodlums to attack foreigners and South African businesses in the country.

    He asked Nigerians to be circumspect of fake videos which had been designed to inflame passion.

    He said three of such videos on alleged killings of Nigerians in South Africa were fake.

    He advised those behind the videos to  immediately desist from doing so forthwith.

    He added: “ I also want to use this press conference to alert Nigerians to the video clips being circulated on the social media, purportedly showing how Nigerians are being killed in South Africa. Three of such videos come to mind:

    • One video shows a man who has been set ablaze trying to escape, and those circulating the video identified the man as Nigerian. This is not true. The video shows Mozambican Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, a victim of xenophobic violence in South Africa in 2008, and it is not that of a Nigerian being attacked in 2019.
    • Another video shows those said to be Nigerians jumping down from a multi-storey building that was purportedly set on fire by xenophobic attackers in South Africa. This is fake news as the video is that of a Suraj Coaching Centre in Gujarat State, India, that was gutted by fire on May 24, 2019, leaving about 18 people dead.
    • The third video, purportedly showing the bodies of Nigerians who were burnt in xenophobic attacks, is the raw footage of those who were killed in a Tanzanian fuel tanker explosion in Morogoro that left at least 60 dead on Aug. 10 2019.

    “Those who are circulating these videos should immediately desist from doing so. Apart from inflaming passion, the videos are also complicating the efforts of the government to calm frayed nerves at home in the wake of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    “Recall, gentlemen, that we alerted Nigerians to the dangers posed by fake news and disinformation when we launched our National Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2019. That campaign is more urgent now than ever, and I implore the media, in particular, to give it a renewed play. Fake news and disinformation represent a clear and present danger to every society.

    “We want to appeal to our opinion leaders and celebrities to be guarded in their utterances and comments on the xenophobic attacks and  the reactions from Nigerians. Words have meaning, and wrong words are like poisoned darts. In the words of the Buddha, ‘’Better than a thousand hollowed words, is one word that brings peace.’’

    Mohammed assured that the government will protect Nigerians wherever they might be all over the world.

    He said other measures are being considered to tackle xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    But, he was silent on the contingencies being put in place by the Federal Government.

    He avoided questions from reporters  to avoid, what a source described as “joining the fray.”

  • Lagos govt, fed govt condemn attack on Shoprite

    THE Lagos State government and Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed last night condemned the attacks on Shoprite outlets in the state.

    The Lagos government, in a statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, said the attacks “are against the Nigerian spirit of accommodation and benevolence that the country”.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the attacks on Shoprite Complexes at Jakande and Sangotedo Area of Ajah by some unidentified people claiming to be acting in retaliation against the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    “These attacks are condemned as they are against the Nigerian spirit of accommodation and benevolence that the country in general and Lagos State in particular is noted for”.

    “The Federal Government is in dialogue with South African Authorities to stop this obnoxious act.  We appeal to our compatriots to eschew violence and any unlawful acts. The Lagos State Government wishes to reiterate its commitment to providing a conducive atmosphere where businesses are conducted without hindrances.

    Read Also: VIDEO: Looters invade Shoprite Lekki

    “The security agencies have been directed to ensure that law and order prevail in all parts of the State, even as Lagosians are advised to go about their activities without any fear.”

    Mohammed said the attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria would be to the detriment of the country.

    In a statement, Mohammed described as deeply disturbing the reports that some Nigerians, angered by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, have started attacking South African companies in Nigeria.

    He said: “Targeting South African companies in Nigeria for attack is, for Nigerians, a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face, because the investors in such companies, especially MTN and Shoprite, are Nigerians.”

  • FG to Nigerians: Attack on South African businesses in Nigeria will hurt Nigerians more

    Attacks on South African businesses operating in Nigeria will be  to the detriment of the country, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said.

    The Minister therefore appealed to Nigerians who were reported to have retaliated by attacking some notable South African business in the country to exercise restraint in the attempt to get even with South Africans who had been looting and burning Nigerian businesses in South Africa.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described as deeply disturbing the reports that some Nigerians, angered by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, have started attacking South African companies in Nigeria.

    He said that targeting South African companies in Nigeria for attack is, for Nigerians, a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face, because the investors in such companies, especially MTN and Shoprite, are Nigerians.

    Read Also: Wizkid condemns xenophobic attacks in South Africa

    Alhaji Mohammed said the majority of the workers in the South African companies operating in Nigeria are also Nigerians, meaning that its Nigerian workers who will be hardest hit if such companies are forced to shut down for fear of attacks.

    He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is already taking decisive measures to put an end to the persistent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    ”President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched a Special Envoy to convey to his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation.

    ”Also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, acting on the instruction of Mr. President, has summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria to get a brief on the situation; express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and secure assurance of the safety of their lives and property,” the Minister said.