ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has called on media organisations and practitioners to support the Armed Forces to deliver on their mandate.
Idris made the call at the commissioning of Defence Holdings Company Limited on Wednesday in Abuja.
He restated his ministry’s position to continue to collaborate with the Nigerian military in their onerous task of ensuring the safety of Nigerians.
Idris explained that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has provided platforms and hardwares for the Nigerian Armed Forces to continue to undertake its assignment.
“The Federal Government is doing all its best to ensure that the country is safe for all. I call on the Nigerian media to please support the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“You have to do your task and be patriotic. You have to know that you do not cede your platforms, whether it is the newspapers, electronic or Online for criminals to propagate fake news.
“We have a duty to deny them that space. All media organisations must deny criminals space to continue to propagate their ideas.
“For those who are purveyors of fake news, I call on the media to please help by imbibing media literacy so that all purveyors of fake news can be identified and punished.
“We have press freedom; press freedom is the responsibility of every government to keep. But I want to say that freedom of expression also carries enormous responsibility.
“You cannot publish falsehood and think that you are excercisng your press freedom. Press freedom is only available when you are speaking the truth,” Idris said.
Idris congratulated the Chief of Defence Staff, Minister of Defence and all those behind the establishment of the Defence Holding Company Limited.
“I do hope that this will, in no small means, continue to contribute towards the upliftment of the morale of the armed forces of Nigeria so that they can defend us at our hours of need,” he said.(NAN)
