Cynthia Ezegwu
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed allegations that Nigeria violates religious freedom, describing them as false and damaging to the country’s image.
Speaking at the 5th National Advertising Conference on Thursday in Abuja, Idris said the claims misrepresent Nigeria’s diversity and peaceful coexistence among various faiths.
“Our nation today faces challenges that are not only economic or security-related but also communicational. One of the gravest of these is the deliberate spread of misinformation — particularly the false and damaging narrative of Nigeria as a ‘violator of religious freedom,’” the minister stated.
He stressed that the claim was “a distortion of our reality as a nation of diverse peoples and faiths who have lived together peacefully for generations.”
Idris maintained that while Nigeria faces security challenges, they are not religiously motivated, adding that victims of terrorism and banditry cut across all faiths.
“All Nigerians — Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths — have suffered from the menace of terrorism and banditry,” he said.
The minister noted that the Federal Government has invested heavily in restructuring and strengthening the nation’s security architecture to combat terrorism and related crimes.
“We have rejigged the command and control structure, and injected new ideas and fresh perspectives into the war against terror,” he added.
Addressing participants at the conference, organised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) with the theme ‘Marketing Communication: Transforming Business and Creating Growth in Challenging Times’, Idris urged marketing and advertising professionals to use their platforms to promote truthful narratives about Nigeria.
“You are not only storytellers for brands and businesses — you are also custodians of national perception and image,” he said. “When false narratives about Nigeria are spread — especially internationally — it is your creativity, strategy, and storytelling that can counterbalance them with truth, context, and compelling narratives of hope and progress.”
He called for a “communication renaissance” anchored on truth, unity, and national pride, adding that his ministry was collaborating with ARCON and other stakeholders to strengthen the advertising and communication industry.
According to him, the implementation of the National Values Charter Framework would promote values such as truth, integrity, patriotism, and national cohesion.
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Earlier, ARCON Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, said the evolving digital landscape has made effective communication more crucial than ever.
“In today’s world, market algorithms and marketing activities are shifting faster than ever, consumer behaviour and insight are becoming challenging to track, and digital disruption is redefining the rules of engagement,” Fadolapo said.
The minister’s remarks come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s handling of religious issues, following recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians in Nigeria face an “existential threat” from radical Islamist groups.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and announced that he had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” directing the Pentagon to consider “possible military measures” against terrorist groups in the country.
His comments drew condemnation from the Nigerian government and reactions from global powers. President Bola Tinubu had earlier dismissed the allegations, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, while China and Russia urged Washington to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.