Tuggar Urges Broadcasters To Defend Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty At IBAN AGM
At a time when global misinformation threatens national narratives, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on broadcasters to see themselves as frontline defenders of the nation’s identity, cohesion, and digital safety.
Represented by the Ministry’s Spokesperson at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN), Tuggar praised the association for adopting the theme: “Broadcasting for Information Sovereignty, National Cohesion and Digital Security.”
Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of the Minister, who is currently on official duty in Johannesburg, the spokesperson noted that the theme aligns strongly with the pillars of Nigeria’s foreign policy.
He described information sovereignty as the digital equivalent of territorial integrity, stressing the need for Nigeria to take full control of its story in the global information space.
He commended independent broadcasters for producing content that mirrors Nigeria’s realities, saying they are “vanguards of the national story” in an era of foreign-sponsored disinformation.
Tuggar also highlighted the broadcast industry’s critical role in strengthening national cohesion, urging practitioners to deploy media tools in ways that bridge differences, deepen dialogue, and promote patriotism.
On digital security, he warned that modern technologies expose Nigeria’s information ecosystem to cyber-attacks and influence operations, making the protection of broadcasting platforms a matter of national security.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with the industry, adding that the narrative shaped at home influences Nigeria’s diplomatic leverage abroad.
The Minister wished IBAN a successful conference and encouraged deeper collaboration between government and media stakeholders to safeguard Nigeria’s digital and national identity.
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