Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has appealed to media practitioners to refrain from granting undue attention to the nefarious activities of terrorists in the country.
Besides, the minister reminded that bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and pirates are waging not only a physical battle but also a psychological war to undermine the morale of the Nigerian military.
Idris made the appeal on Wednesday while hosting media executives and working journalists at a special Iftar (breaking of fast) in Kano.
The minister, accompanied by presidential media advisers and all heads of agencies in the Federal Ministry of Information, cautioned the media to be mindful of sensational reportage at the expense of the state.
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” As media managers, we must be very careful to not play into their hands, through reporting that might be misleading or sensational or that undermines the morale of our security personnel”. Idris stressed.
On what the federal government is doing to address the spade of unrest in the country, the minister said the Military and other intelligence agencies have been taking the war to bandits’ and terrorists’ hideouts with significant successes recorded.
“In February 2024, our Armed Forces neutralized 974 terrorists, apprehended 621 suspects, rescued 466 hostages, and recovered 1,573 weapons. The Nigerian Military (supported by the Police and Intelligence agencies) has been taking the war to bandits’ and terrorists’ camps and hideouts, especially in the North-West and the FCT, and we are seeing the results.
“The situation in Abuja has been brought under control, every week there is a news report about bandits routed and camps destroyed. We are seeing testimonials of people safely making journeys they were not daring to months ago, like the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway”. Minister said.
Further speaking on the impact of economic reality in the country as a result of the removal of subsidy, Idris emphasized that the administration of President Bola Tinubu did not intend to cause hardship on Nigerians but rather committed to correcting the devastating damage the country is plunged in the name of fuel subsidy.
The Minister disclosed that one of the secret revelations behind fuel subsidy was an over 50 percent drop in fuel consumption immediately after the withdrawal of subsidy, a clear indication of perpetual fraud.
On what the government is doing to mitigate the hard impact of the removal, Idris said the president is already at the heart of reforms to grow the economy.
” As a removal of subsidy, we now have an acceleration of the revamping of our nation’s internal refining capacity with the Dangote Refinery coming in strongly and the Port Harcourt Refinery returning to active production.
“Also, the subsidy removal has now deeply enthroned a more open liberalization of the petroleum sector, particularly in the retail sector, as the major players understand and appreciate the liberal nature of petroleum pricing.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Central Bank is determined to focus on its core mandates of price stability and financial system stability, for the benefit of all Nigerians”. Minister said.