Information minister Mohammed Idris says the federal government is satisfied that international journalists working in Nigeria have not been harassed. He called on international media organisations to frequently report Nigeria’s positive narratives and development in their news bulletins and broadcasts.

Idris made the call when the director of Global News/Deputy CEO of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Jonathan Munro and his team paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, the policy thrust of President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains to uphold the freedom of the press and create a conducive environment for the media to thrive.

He added that the Nigerian government expects the international media organisations to express due diligence in their reportage.

The minister emphasised the importance of balanced and unbiased reporting, adding that, the international media must provide a complete and nuanced portrayal rather than focusing solely on negative aspects.

“The thrust of the policy of this administration is that every news organisation has the freedom to practice the profession. I am happy that the Nigerian government has not received any reports concerning the harassment of journalists working for the BBC or any other international media outlets in the country.

“I commend the foresight of the BBC in moving the studio of the Hausa Service from London to Abuja, where the audience and markets are. The brilliant initiative has led to the engagement of about 200 Nigerians working for the BBC across the country,” stated the information minister.

Mr Idris added, “We will also urge you to continue to balance your stories to hear our own side of the story. It’s not only bad things that come out of Nigeria. There are a lot of positive narratives and developments in Nigeria. Please, let your reportage reflect and showcase all these positive narratives and developments.”

The minister further stated that the BBC’s correspondents on the ground could testify that the government is taking positive actions, leading to gradual progression towards prosperity.

Mr Idris saluted the BBC for embarking on capacity building for some journalists working for the public media organisations. He also appealed that a similar gesture should be extended to private media outlets.

Speaking earlier, Mr Munro, who is in Nigeria for the first time, said he was delighted by the reputation of the BBC in the country. He said the BBC has expanded into multimedia platforms in Nigeria and is now broadcasting in Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba to reach a diverse audience.

Mr Munro, who described Nigeria as a global power, said about 30 million people visit the BBC news services in Nigeria every week.

(NAN)