By Ameh Gabriel
Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, Mohammed Abubakar, has called for stronger collective action against the growing tide of disinformation, misinformation, and fake news targeting the country, warning that a united front is vital to protecting national image and security.
The Minister made the call in Abuja while receiving the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) Award for Excellence in Strategic Security Policy Formulation for National and Global Peace.
Abubakar was among several distinguished Nigerians honoured, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Interior Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), and Air Peace Founder Allen Onyema.
Disinformation as a National Threat
Commending DICAN’s initiative, themed “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misperceptions, and the Age of Disinformation: The Role of Diplomacy, Intelligence, and Media in Shaping National and Global Stability,” Abubakar described the platform as “highly patriotic” and timely.
“A lot of fake news is out there distorting the image of our country, and you (DICAN) are bent on correcting it. That is very good. As Nigerians, we have no other country but Nigeria, and we must correct the negative image being pushed by unpatriotic people,” he said.
The Minister pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and strengthening its global standing.
DICAN’s Pledge
Earlier, DICAN Chairman Idehai Frederick reaffirmed the association’s commitment to combating foreign information manipulation, interference, disinformation, and fake news.
He noted that DICAN is the first journalists’ beat association globally to convene a Diplomatic/Security International Conference, which brought together Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, including the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Gautier Mignot, alongside security stakeholders, civil society, and policy experts.
Frederick called on government at all levels, the diplomatic community, and civil society organisations to support DICAN through capacity building and resources, stressing that empowering journalists with the right tools and knowledge is essential to tackling the “cancerous monster” of disinformation threatening democracy and stability.
A Call for United Action
The consensus at the event was clear: combating fake news requires collaboration across diplomacy, intelligence, media, and governance. Both government and media stakeholders agreed that misinformation is not only a reputational challenge but also a national security threat demanding urgent and sustained response.
