The Federal Government has urged paramilitary agencies and departments to desist from peddling falsehoods and embrace transparent, empathetic communication with Nigerians…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the call on Saturday in Abuja while declaring open the ministry’s Media Masterclass 2025 themed “Beyond Press Statements: Media as a Tool for Public Engagement.”
Addressing participants drawn from agencies including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Fire Service, and Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), the minister said it was time to shift from defensive communication to proactive engagement.
“To our Public Relations Officers, you can always communicate satisfactorily to the people without lies. Communication is a function of trust,” he declaredsaid.
Tunji-Ojo maintained that government communicators must own their narratives, present facts accurately, and do so with a sense of empathy especially when lives and sensitive issues are involved.
“Always report stories from a point of empathy because you are being paid taxpayers’ money. You are not doing Nigerians a favour.
“I have read some press statements and I had to call some of you because I didn’t see any empathy. If a fire truck kills people, your statements must reflect compassion for the lives lost,” he stressed.
He added that the ministry’s mandate, ranging from internal security and border protection to citizenship integrity, demands clarity, empathy, and accuracy in all public communication.
While acknowledging the dedication of public relations personnel, Tunji-Ojo urged them to “sit up” and justify the public funds spent on them.
He stressed that the age of withholding critical information from the public is over, “Say the truth to people, but say it in a way that appreciates the effort you’re putting in. Do not let naysayers set the agenda for you.”
Recalling a missed opportunity for positive publicity, the minister narrated how an inmate flagged by the Nigeria Correctional Service while attempting to obtain a passport was apprehended by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
He noted that the story failed to make timely headlines due to poor communication.
“What would have been a promotional story for the government ended up with us on the defensive because we did not communicate appropriately to the public in time,” he lamented.
Earlier, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Babatunde Alao, explained that the masterclass aimed to bolster the storytelling and public engagement skills of media officers across the ministry’s agencies.
He emphasised the need for digital literacy, strategic storytelling, and visualized content to bridge the gap between government work and public perception.
“Agencies must begin to own their narratives. It is not enough to issue press statements. We must tell our stories effectively and with impact,” Alao said.
Ten participants were drawn from each service, alongside the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Correctional Services Board, and the Ministry’s Press Directorate.
The masterclass is expected to be a catalyst for a more transparent, responsive, and people-oriented communication culture within the Ministry of Interior…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
