Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the Federal Government will not regulate the activities of online media in the country.
This is just as he appealed to online publishers to join hands in fighting the ongoing anti-corruption war, adding that it is a collective war that must be fought by all Nigerians.
Online publishers, he said are responsible enough to regulate themselves and maintain their credibility and that as a result government would regulate or censor their activities.
He said this when he met with online media in Lagos, as part of the ongoing robust consultation with key stakeholders in the information and culture industry.
According to him,”If the online publications suffer credibility problems, they stand the risk of losing the confidence of their readers and the advertisers who provide the lifeblood for the publications’ survival”.
The Federal Government image maker stated online media would continue to increase, adding that only credible ones would enjoy patronage from either their readers or from the advertisers.
He called on the Publishers’ support to ensure the success of the various campaigns that have been launched or are about to be launched by the Federal Government.
He pointed out that it would be better for online media to increase in number as according to him ,it would help the government to bridge the communication between the governed and the government of the day .
He added that with their growing number it would be easier for the government to carry the citizenry along in the formulation and implementation of its policies that would affect the people.
He promised that the Federal Government would patronise the online media via advertisements but that the online managers should not sensationalise information.
In his words, ”All we ask for, in return, is that you provide accurate information to the people, and avoid sensationalism and partisanship.”
”The National Security Awareness Campaign, aimed at rallying the support of Nigerians for the war on terror, is ongoing. Also, the National Sensitization Campaign against Corruption was formally launched in Abuja on Monday and it is aimed at rallying Nigerians against the cankerworm of corruption which has eaten deep into the fabric of our society. We are also preparing to launch a National Re-orientation Campaign, which is tagged ‘CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME’, to achieve a paradigm shift in the way we do things. ”he said
On the ongoing anti corruption war, he also appealed to the online publishers to support the war against corruption by informing Nigerians about the evils of corruption.
He said that the current war is not for President Muhammadu Buhari but a collective one.
