The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on religious leaders and other stakeholders to lend support in stemming the spread of fake news and misinformation about Federal Government policies and programmes.
The Director of the agency in Jigawa, Ahmad Ibrahim, said this at a one-day advocacy meeting on government policies, programmes and activities, in Dutse.
According to Ibrahim, such support would help foster patriotism, unity and development in the country.He said that religious institutions provide a vital platform for accurate information on government policies and programmes to reach the grassroots, countering fake news and misinformation.
“We appeal to our religious leaders to champion the fight against fake news and misinformation associated with government policies, programmes and activities.
“This is because religious institutions have a vital platform to discourage followers and other Nigerians from spreading fake news and misinformation, and where they pass accurate information about government policies, programs and activities, thus countering the influence of fake news and misinformation,” Ibrahim said.
Je explained that the federal government had initiated various economic recovery reforms to build a better future for all Nigerians, regardless of class, religion, or social status.
The director, however, said that due to the increase in fake news, especially through social media platforms, citizens hardly acknowledge the benefits of the reforms.
According to him, no government will deliberately introduce a policy in order to impose hardship on its citizens.
He said that all policies introduced by the federal government were designed for the country’s overall interest.
Ibrahim added that the present administration had initiated many programmes to support citizens in the areas of economy, education and agriculture, citing its NELFUND programme as a significant achievement.
He, therefore, stressed the need for religious leaders to discourage followers from spreading fake or unverified information, which often leads to disintegration, chaos, or even communal crisis.
Sheikh Aminu Baba-Waziri and Pastor Alhamdu Kade, who represented religious institutions at the event, both urged the NOA to put more efforts in educating Nigerians about federal government policies, particularly the new tax reforms.
Baba-Waziri urged the agency to double its efforts to inculcate patriotism, love, and respect for leaders among Nigerians.
Kade, on his part, called on the agency to continue educating Nigerians about the new tax reforms to counter fake news and misinformation about it, particularly on social media.
Highlights of the event included presentations by 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, among others.
Feedback from participants indicated the need for NOA to strengthen citizens’ engagement and bridge the knowledge gaps among Nigerians.
