Information Is Power After The First Confirmed Case Of Coronavirus In Nigeria – Lai

After the recent confirmed case of Coronavirus in Nigeria, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said the FG is intensifying its public sensitization and enlightenment campaign on the disease.

Lai, who revealed this in a statement today said media agencies under the ministry like the NTA, FRCN, NAN, VON, and NOA, have been ordered to increase their ongoing sensitization and enlightenment campaign to ensure the citizens have the required information to be safe.

According to him, jingles on radio and TV, continued airing of documentaries on the disease, up-to-date reports on the efforts of Nigerian doctors is key to tackling the virus in this part of the world.

He added that Nigerians should avoid falling for the antics of spreaders of fake news during this period.

His words, “With Coronavirus now in Nigeria, following the first confirmed case, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is intensifying it’s public sensitization and enlightenment campaign on the disease.

”Information is power is most apt at this time”.

“The measures being taken by the agencies include: Jingles on radio and television – Up-to-date reports on the efforts being made by Nigerian health authorities to ensure proper screening at the nation’s gateways and also handle possible cases – Continued airing of documentaries on the disease by the NTA SMS sensitization messages being sent to Nigerians by the News Agency of Nigeria

“The National Orientation Agency (NOA), with its wide reach (offices in all the 774 local governments), is pushing the various sensitization/enlightenment programmes to all the nooks and crannies of the country, translating the campaign to the major indigenous languages to expand their reach Features on the disease (prevention, treatment, etc.) are being written and disseminated.”

“We know that at times like this, purveyors of fake news and disinformation usually ramp up their acts. We are therefore urging Nigerians not to fall for the antics of purveyors of fakes news and disinformation

“Fortunately, Facebook is working with us in this regard. They have asked Nigerians to report any false or misleading report on Facebook and Instagram pages so they can immediately bring them down.

“They have also assured us that they are taking preemptive action to remove any false or harmful messages about this epidemic and public health in Nigeria 24/7.

“All that Nigerians are required to do is to flag any false or misleading report on the epidemic and Facebook will remove any such report.”