Stop making damaging Statements capable of Scaring Investors Away-FG

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer

Ad

DHQ Never Mentioned Any Coup Attempt

1. The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to a false and misleading report by an online publication insinuating that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was linked to an alleged attempted military coup. The report also made spurious references to the recent DHQ press release announcing the arrest…

Oil Prices Dip as Trump-Putin Summit Looms

Crude oil prices are expected to decline this week due to the hypothetical possibility of a peace agreement between the US and Russia, which could lead to a rebound in Russian oil exports and contribute to a predicted supply glut. The International Energy Agency has revised its demand growth estimates downwards for both this year…

When Forgiveness Is Hard (2), By Funke Egbemode

She was popularly called Mama Iyabo. Her husband threw her out of their matrimonial home 15 years ago, along with her three children, after 15 years of marriage. “I had earlier heard rumours about my husband and another woman. I knew he had girlfriends. He was doing well and living it up, though he took…

Ad

By Kolawole Ojebisi

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against making comments capable of casting the country in a bad light.

The government noted that making persistent negative comments about the country has the implication of scaring away potential 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.

Idris noted that the country could only boost its Foreign Direct Investment through the influx of willing investors who see opportunities to be exploited in our land.

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 advised that the world is in an era of fake information and that whatever certain people project about their country couldn’t be taken as fact.

The minister also criticised Sunday’s viral reports that maintained 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?…”

Ad

X whatsapp