The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged international media organizations to move away from what he perceives as negative coverage of Nigeria.
During a meeting with a delegation from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Abuja on Thursday, Idris challenged global media outlets to adopt a more accurate, balanced, and fair approach in their reporting on the country.
“There are not only bad things coming out of Nigeria,” Idris stated in a release signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, emphasizing that the country is on a path to prosperity.
He urged the BBC and other foreign media to ensure their stories reflect the full narrative of Nigeria.
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“We encourage you to continue balancing your stories to include our perspective. I’m sure your correspondents on the ground have observed the positive developments happening in the country and the gradual progression toward prosperity,” Idris said. He also reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to maintaining a focused, unbiased, and free press.
Idris further highlighted that the Tinubu administration has upheld a policy of press freedom, noting that there have been no reports of harassment of international journalists.
The minister also commended the BBC for relocating its Hausa Service to Abuja, a strategic move that has created significant local employment opportunities.
He acknowledged the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the BBC, a relationship built on trust and respect over more than five decades.
Jonathan Munro, the BBC’s Deputy CEO and Director of Global News, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, expressed admiration for the BBC’s strong audience base in the country, where it reaches over 30 million people weekly.
He confirmed that Nigeria is the BBC’s third-largest market globally, after the U.S. and India. Munro also noted the BBC’s ongoing expansion into new digital and multimedia platforms and its efforts to broadcast in Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba to connect with Nigeria’s diverse population.
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