FG Warns Nigerians Against Making Negative Comments About the Country

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to refrain from making negative remarks about the country.

Idris issued this caution during the official unveiling of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NMRG) at an event organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja on October 15.

He emphasized that a strong national brand would attract talent, tourists, and investors, thereby bolstering the country’s position and creating more positive opportunities.

Conversely, he noted that a weak national brand could hinder efforts to secure foreign direct investments, especially if Nigerians continue to express negative sentiments about the nation.

“This brings me to the way Nigerians talk about their country. We are the ones striving for foreign direct investments to come into our land. On the other hand, we are very quick to say all those things that will drive away investors and those who want to identify with us.

We must find a way to strike a true balance, especially for the media to report accurately, objectively, and with a sense of patriotism towards their country. I have always said that you can’t promote your country negatively while downplaying the positives. Therefore, there is a need to always promote our national image in a positive light.

A strong national asset attracts talents, tourists, and investors. These combinations will, in turn, further strengthen the country. The reverse is also true; a weak national brand discourages investments and talents, depriving a country of what it needs for national development.” he said