The Federal Government on Tuesday cautioned Nigerians against projecting the country in a negative light, stating that it is driving away investors and tourists.
The Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, raised these concerns in Abuja at the official unveiling of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group at a programme organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
Recall that earlier in May, President Bola Tinubu announced that his nine-month-old administration had attracted $30 billion in direct foreign investment commitments to bolster the economy.
The president stated this at the 2023 Leadership Annual Conference and Award in Abuja.
However, the minister insisted that opportunities to secure further foreign direct investments from willing investors would be jeopardised if Nigerians continued to write and say negative things about the country.
He said, “This brings me to the way Nigerians talk about their country. We are the ones striving for foreign direct investments to come into our land.
On the other hand, we are very quick to say all those things that will drive away investors and those who want to identify with us.
“We must find a way to strike a true balance, especially for the media to report accurately, objectively, and with a sense of patriotism towards their country. I have always said that you can’t promote your country negatively while downplaying the positives. Therefore, there is a need to always promote our national image in a positive light.
“A strong national asset attracts talents, tourists, and investors. These combinations will, in turn, further strengthen the country. The reverse is also true; a weak national brand discourages investments and talents, depriving a country of what it needs for national development.”
His sentiments were shared by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who also called for caution.
Tuggar warned that the world is in an era of fake information and that whatever certain people project about their country could be taken as fact.
The minister also criticised Sunday’s viral reports that Nigeria was ‘snubbed’ in the recent election of 18 member states to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.
He said, “Today, we are looking at national reputation management. We live in an era where information travels at unprecedented speed. A single event, a careless statement, or even a misleading news story can go viral within minutes.
“This past weekend has been very eventful for foreign affairs. The Nigerian Super Eagles were stranded in Libya ahead of a planned AFCON qualifier match. On the same day, various media houses reported that Sunday Igboho, a leading figure in the Yoruba secessionist movement, submitted a petition to the UK government.
“Then, of course, there was the news that Nigeria lost an election in the UN. The only problem was that it was an election that Nigeria never stood for. So how could we lose it? These are the news stories reported by some sections of the media and the public that drove negative sentiments aimed at undermining the country’s image. This is where the challenge of fake news comes into focus.”
Earlier in his address, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, John Momoh, warned against dragging the nation’s reputation through the mud.
The renowned broadcast journalist also expressed concerns that, in a nation where the government is seemingly doing everything possible to change its fortunes, it is evident that Nigerians are hungry.
“How we view ourselves as a nation matters. Nigeria’s reputation needs a radical transformation. I am not referring to our standing in international rankings; instead, I am talking about the reputation built on the integrity of our institutions, the transparency of our leadership, and the well-being of our people.
“Sadly, when government is perceived as an avenue for personal gain, the results are felt deeply by all. Invariably, this widens the gap between the privileged few and the majority at the grassroots.
“The poor are hungry. The government is doing a lot, but there has been a lot of rot over the decades. No matter how much effort is put in, it is like a drop in the ocean,” he lamented.
