Fake news and misinformation are things we need to come together and fight by putting out facts.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi and Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, have reiterated the need to curb the spread of fake news in Nigeria through adequate sensitsation and information dissemination to the general public.
They spoke on the issue on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the official commissioning of EFCC Radio, 97.3 F.M., in Abuja, the head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
Malagi commended the commission on its ardent and results-yielding war against economic and financial crimes, pointing out that no Nigerian today can ignore, deny or dismiss the impact of the EFCC.
He said, “As a Minister, we feel very glad for this step, because we put too much focus on catching people rather than advocacy, enlightenment and sensitisation. I am happy now that we are making the right step in the right direction because nobody can tell a story better than you are, so fake news and misinformation are things we need to come together and fight by putting out facts so that the right information can be out there and radio is the simplest way of reaching the larger audience.
”Be rest assured, we will do our best to ensure you achieve your goals of informing, enlightening and sanitising, I am happy we have the EFCC joining us to achieve this. My principal role is to see that information is given accurately, I will urge other stations to support you too.”
On his own part, Olukoyede went down memory lane concerning the conception and crystallisation of the idea of a Radio Station for the Commission, describing its commissioning as a milestone. Like Malagi, he denounced the scourge of fake news and its attendant disservice to the works of the EFCC, maintaining that the Radio Station would help the commission tell its own stories more accurately.
“Communication offers us stronger weapons for breaking half-truths, lies, insinuations and other distortions of the works we do. Indeed, with our own Radio Station, we are in a better position to tell our stories, factually, ungarnished and unspun.
“For us, owning a radio is not a status symbol but an important organ of mobilisation against graft where communication and public engagement have the same impact and depth as our operational activities. Indeed, we are in a better position to tell our stories.
“This avenue I believe will deepen the relationship with the public towards the fight against corruption. It is important to let people know about what we do. We recognize that radio has a wider reach so the next step is to increase the coverage so that the public can reach out to us and we too can reach out to the public,” he said.
In his comments, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Sen. Emmanuel Udende, described corruption as a monster crippling growth and development of the nation.
He noted that “the fear of EFCC has become the pillar of economic and financial wisdom in Nigeria. The giant strides of the Commission are highly commendable which underscores the importance of EFCC Radio 97.3fm, as today there is so much misinformation of facts, I am hopeful that the station will boost publicity and awareness about corruption and also bring the Commission closer to the people.”
On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Kayode Akinolu called on all Nigerians to make the EFCC Radio as their preferred station as public enlightenment is needed in the anti-graft fight.