Journalists have been asked to use the power of their pen to check the proliferation of fake news in Nigeria.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Zubairu Dada was speaking at the twenty twenty two Press Week award ceremony launching of calendar and magazine organised by Niger state Council of NUJ held in Minna the state capital.
Ambassador Zubairu Dada reminded the Journalists that as noble profession saddled with responsibility of setting agenda for the country they must discharged their duties deligently in fishing out bad eggs that are bent on spreading fake news for personal gains.
To achieve this the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs maintained that collective efforts by Nigerians is required to succeed and commended executives of NUJ Niger state Council for their commitment and foresight in piloting their affairs.
Niger state Governor Alh Abubakar Sani Bello explained that fake news has lead to the relocation of many communities to other locations thereby leading to loss of lives and properties which he said must be squarely addressed.
Represented by Secretary to Niger State Government Ahmed Ibrahim Matane the Governor said Niger state government in partnership with Federal Government are doing everything possible to ensure and guarantee safety and lives and properties of Nigerlites within the shortest possible time.
Niger state Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Emmanuel Umar Musa lamented that Federal Government presence on the issue of insecurity in Niger state has been very minimal and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck tackle such problem.
National President of NUJ Comrade Chris Asiguzo who explained that fake news has lead to communal political and religious crisis however said as Journalists we must fact checked every informantiion that comes to us professionally to achieve maximum results.
In his remarks Chairman Niger state Council of NUJ Comrade Abu Nmodu said Journalists as the hope actually left to bring back democracy as well as promotion of democratic value and practice we cannot allow fake news to overshadow our patriotic role especially now that we are being faced with security challenges that put us and other Nigerians on the line of dangers.
Emir of Agaie Alh Yusuf Nuhu described the theme Fact Check to End Fake News Tasks before Niger state Journalists as apt and timely and called for collective efforts to succeed.
Guest Speaker and Head of Department Mass Communication IBB University Lapai Ternenge Ende opined that to address this problem investigative journalism persistent fact checking and truthfulness are required by the journalists to achieve greater height.
Cov Aliyu Lawal/Minna
