President Bola Tinubu’s government has called for global unity to fight the menace of fake news worldwide.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Tuesday when a delegation from UNESCO Feasibility Team paid him a visit in Abuja.

The team is in Nigeria to assess the National Open University of Nigeria’s (NOUN) facilities for the establishment of the UNESCO Category Two International Media and Information Literacy Institute.

Mr Idris said the International Media and Information Literacy Institute was not just designed for the people of Nigeria but the world in general.

He said it was an opportunity for Nigerians to show their expertise professionalism and commitment to media and information literacy globally.

“Fake news, misinformation and disinformation is a global challenge, and we note the efforts that UNESCO has been making to combat that,” he said.

He said misinformation and disinformation could ruin societies and destroy nations and relationships across the globe.

“Every country that is desirous of having a collaboration on the global stage must ensure that it plays a key role in combating these very deadly menace.

“Fake news is more dangerous than even a gun; it travels faster than any fighter jet, it goes beyond all boundaries, and it does not require any visa to go there.

“Therefore, we have to know that for us to combat this very deadly menace, the entire global community will have to come together to collectively fight it,” Mr Idris said.

He explained that any time the government attempted to address fake news, it was sometimes misconstrued and misrepresented as fighting press freedom or freedom of expression.

Mr Idris stressed that President Bola Tinubu takes the issue of press freedom and freedom of expression very seriously.

“Tinubu, being a beneficiary of press freedom, will not in any way, form or shape attempt to stifle that.

“Indeed, he has given us marching orders to ensure the press that is already free in Nigeria becomes even freer.

“All the obstacles that appear to be there in the way of the press in discharging its responsibilities are being taken away by government gradually,” he said.

The minister, however, acknowledged that sometimes there were some overzealous people.

The minister further maintained that everything should be done in an organised manner, adding that it must be fashioned in a way that delivers the right values.

(NAN)