NewStats: 3,262,632 , 8,177,733 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 06:01 AM 272t4a

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has slammed London-based news magazine, The Economist, over an article it published concerning the insurgency in Nigeria.

The article titled, ‘Insurgency, Secessionism and Banditry Threaten Nigeria,’ accused the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of ineptitude, while lambasting the Nigerian military, alleging that it sometimes sells weapons to insurgents.

Mohammed, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, described the article by the news magazine as inaccurate while pointing out that the organisation is not infallible.

He said the claim by the news magazine that jihadists are carving out a caliphate in the North-East is wrong especially at a time when terrorists are surrendering in droves as a result of pounding by the military.

He said, “As you are very much aware, there have been various reactions to the stereotypical story on Nigeria by The Economist. So, we are not about to rehash what has been said about that publication. But before dwelling on the focus of this press briefing, let me make a quick observation.

“The Economist Group, of which The Economist magazine is an integral part, has been wrong about Nigeria before, just as it is wrong about Nigeria this time around. Recall, gentlemen, that shortly before the 2019 general elections, The Economist Intelligence Unit, also from the stable of The Economist Group, predicted that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, will win the election. Well, The Economist was wrong. President Muhammadu Buhari won re-election by over 3 million votes. So, The Economist and other arms of the group are not infallible.

“Now, to the focus of today’s briefing. Gentlemen, the Nigerian press is reputed to be one of the most vibrant in the world. This is not a fluke. The Nigerian press has indeed earned its epaulets, and its vibrancy has been honed by years of fearlessly taking on whoever crosses its path, whether they are colonialists or military rulers. It is therefore not a surprise that the media was assigned a role by the 1999 Constitution. Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution tasks the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media to, at all times, be free to uphold the responsibility and ability of the government to the people.

“In simple English, the Nigerian press has a watchdog role assigned to it by the framers of our Constitution. Please note the catchphrase, WATCHDOG. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines ‘watchdog’ as ”a person or organisation responsible for making certain that companies obey particular standards and do not act illegally:” The Constitution never envisages or mandates the Nigerian press to be a LAPDOG, which is defined by the same dictionary as ”someone who is willing to do anything that a more important person tells them to do”. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian press cannot and must not play the role of a LAPDOG.

“The idea of the Nigerian media, especially the traditional media, regurgitating anything and everything published or reported by its foreign counterpart is totally antithetical to its reputation of independence and vibrancy. The Nigerian media does itself a great disservice by turning itself into an echo chamber of the foreign media.

“When The Economist reported its patently-wrong and badly-researched story, it was immediately amplified by the local media, without even interrogating its content? This is totally unconscionable! For example, The Economist reported that the Jihadist threat in the North-east has ‘metastasized’, and everyone knows that this is totally inaccurate. Prior to the time it was dislodged, which was before Dec. 2015 when I led a team of local and international journalists to Bama in Borno State, Boko Haram established the headquarters of its so-called Caliphate in that town (Bama), where it hoisted its flag, collected taxes as well as installed and removed Emirs at will. Today, Boko Haram has no Caliphate anywhere in Nigeria. Yet, the Nigerian press regurgitated that report by The Economist.

“Again, at a time that Boko Haram and ISWAP are taking on each other in a mutually-destructive lockstep, and at a time that the terrorists are surrendering in droves as a result of heavy pounding by the military, it is wrong to say that Jihadists are carving out a Caliphate in the North-East, as the Economist reported. In any case, why would the Nigerian media become an echo chamber for a foreign newspaper that denigrates the Nigerian military and makes light of the sacrifices of our valiant troops? Would the British or American press regurgitate a report in the Nigerian press denigrating their militaries?

“Gentlemen, I do not believe that the Nigerian media hates this country, neither will I agree that the media does not appreciate our military. But I appeal to you to stop endorsing the denigration of our country, our military, our institutions by some unscrupulous foreign media. By regurgitating their inaccurate stories about Nigeria, you are endorsing their stand. The Nigerian media was mandated to be a watchdog, not a lapdog.”

https://punchng.com/lai-mohammed-slams-the-economist-says-jihadists-not-carving-caliphate-in-north-east/

Anyway Lia mohammadu is arguably right. The Nigeria media should do well for the sake of country.

The foreign media are too bias when it comes to Africa news.

The Kwara governor should be arrested for calling Lai a thief

ok

hmmm

Here comes the Enabler and Defender of terrorism in Nigeria rushing to defend his brothers in arms

I de always find am difficult to believe wetin dis Lai de talk.

I said it that this cankerworm will soon come out to attack The Economist. If he had his way, he would have slammed them with N5m fine.

Before they made that publication, they carried out thorough investigation. But as usual, the truth is always bitter for this terrorist govt.

DankemzI:
Here comes the Enabler and Defender of terrorism in Nigeria rushing to defend his brothers in arms

Say no more brother

Imediately I saw Mr LAI, I almost left the thread

N4m in 30 days, ideas needed...

See https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/6825173/

Seventy years old man ooooo!
Selling his conscience to lies sotey him lies de shock Satan the father of all lies...

But he won't see the sack letter bandits gave soldiers in Plateau.

OK!! Mr Lai Muhammed.
What are they doing......

Spit another trash let's hear u.
We like to get another riddles and tales.
You are never short of dishing them out like souvenirs.

A liar and a turncoat! A disgrace of a human being. This is what lie Mohammed is all about.

Please what positive impact has this Liar Mohammed made to this country since he became the minister of information & culture. I need an answer pls, I dey hot seat, I don crack brain tire

Muhammad the liar lai lai Mohammed

We lie best when nobody is watching...

BeeBeeOoh:


https://punchng.com/lai-mohammed-slams-the-economist-says-jihadists-not-carving-caliphate-in-north-east/

ich



in which planet does this monkey lives in

LIAR

This guy dey lie Devil walahi talahi and he's so shameless while at it

Lie the lying bot. Please can you grant this your press briefing in Borno or Zamfara or even shiroro that shares same boundary with Abuja. please make sure you drive to any of the locations you finally choose. Shameless lying mannequin

They are not carving a caliphate... There is already a caliphate even with hisbah and all... Bandits don't want kids to go to western schools anymore... Boko haram now collect tax from farmers... So I don't know what Mr Lai Mohammed is talking about

Shameless old man, is there anything hidden in this 21st century especially about a shithole country like Nigeria.

To this shameless old man, they are most working government on earth. They can tell that to their mummyfied zombies

See another lie. He can't disappoint.

Satan they learn work from this fellow

This ministers of terrorism

What does iswap means Islamic state of West Africa?

It's obvious the government are behind the terrorists

Lai Mohammed thinks from his Mouth and talks from his anus. His own definition of loyalty is telling unimaginable lies. The Nigerian people already don't take him serious but I fear that he might be deceiving the international media that would have assumed that a Minister for information is supposed to be a reasonable normal human being.

endsarrrs:


Anyway Lia mohammadu is arguably right. The Nigeria media should do well for the sake of country.

The foreign media are too bias when it comes to Africa news.

they used data from Africa based newspapers and journals to write so I don't know what u are talking about

Liar Mohammed is the minister for bandits affairs

Don't bother to explain. We just ed how your grand child asked you why people say that you always lie

The unrepentant liar has done it again

# lai LIES for a living!

Guess they are carving their own country....