By Bavoriat Clara
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has pledged to intensify Nigeria’s fight against fake news and disinformation, warning that false narratives are damaging the nation’s reputation and posing a threat to national security.
Speaking in Abuja after receiving the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) Award of Excellence on Strategic Security Policy Formulation for National and Global Peace, Badaru emphasized the need for accurate information to preserve Nigeria’s image at home and abroad.
The Minister was among 15 distinguished Nigerians honoured for their efforts in promoting peace and security. Others recognised include former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, and Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema.
Commending DICAN for organising its first International Diplomatic and Security Conference, themed “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation”, Badaru described the event as timely and patriotic.
“There’s a lot of fake news out there distorting Nigeria’s image, and DICAN is committed to setting the record straight — that is commendable,” he said. “We have no other country but Nigeria, and it’s our collective responsibility to protect her reputation from being tainted by unpatriotic narratives.”
He assured DICAN of the Ministry’s continued support, stressing that factual reporting is essential to national unity and maintaining Nigeria’s global credibility.
In his address, DICAN Chairman, Idehai Frederick, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to tackling disinformation by training journalists to detect and counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
He called on the government, civil society, and development partners to support DICAN with capacity building, resources, and tools necessary to enhance its impact.
Frederick also noted that DICAN is the first journalists’ beat association globally to host an international conference focused on diplomacy and security — attracting diplomats, security leaders, policy experts, civil society actors, and scholars.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Gautier Mignot, led the diplomatic corps at the high-level gathering.
The conference highlighted the growing urgency for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the media, and international stakeholders to confront disinformation and reinforce Nigeria’s democratic resilience.
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