Nigeria and US Join Forces to Enhance Press Freedom and Combat Fake News

Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has announced a strategic partnership with the United States government to enhance press freedom.

This collaboration aims to strengthen media freedom in Nigeria and address critical issues such as misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.

The announcement came after a meeting between Minister Idris and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, held on Wednesday. During the meeting, both parties discussed various strategies to improve press freedom and tackle the challenges posed by false information.

"The ambassador talked about some issues that he thinks we need to address, to improve in the area of press freedom," said Minister Idris. "We have also given him assurance on what we are doing, and he recognizes the fact that we are doing a great job in ensuring that the Nigerian press is not just free but also one of the freest around the world."

Minister Idris emphasized the Tinubu administration’s high priority on press freedom and assured the government's commitment to further enhancing media freedom in the country. He noted that the discussions also covered how to forge a common front in the fight against misinformation and disinformation. "He talked about misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and all that stuff, and we discussed that. We all believe collectively that there’s no way you can build a virile society when you promote fake news and don’t take the issue of misinformation and disinformation seriously," Idris added.

Ambassador Mills echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of the partnership in strengthening the existing relationship between the US government and Nigeria's Ministry of Information and National Orientation. He praised the efforts of Minister Idris in championing the cause of press freedom and journalists' rights in Nigeria. "The challenge posed by disinformation is significant, especially in democracies around the world," said Ambassador Mills. "We have shared thoughts and ideas with the minister on how to tackle this challenge."