The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned against misinformation, hate speech, incitement and divisive narratives capable of undermining national unity.
The Minister said political competition must not be allowed to weaken national cohesion, stressing that Nigeria’s unity and stability should remain a priority.
“Elections will come and go; Nigeria will remain,” he said.
Idris urged journalists to verify information, resist sensationalism and uphold professional ethics in their reporting.
He said government, the media and citizens have complementary responsibilities in protecting the integrity of the information space and strengthening democracy.
Speaking at the event, the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, said the reactivation of the Newspaper Corporation was part of his administration’s efforts to restore key state institutions and strengthen information management.
Governor Otu said the administration’s vision was to combine the corporation’s rich heritage and institutional history with modern technology to enable it to play a stronger role in informing the people and projecting the Cross River story.
The Minister congratulated Governor Otu, the government and people of Cross River State, as well as the management and staff of the Cross River Information Hub.
He expressed confidence that the revitalised institution would strengthen the state’s voice, preserve its history and promote truth and professionalism for generations to come.
Among dignitaries at the event were former Governor of Cross River State, Chief Clement Ebri; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem; Chief Judge of the State, Justice Akon Ikpeme; President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku; and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dili Ezughah.