Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has reassured to do everything possible to restore trust in the country’s public communication.
Idris gave the reassurance at the commissioning ceremony of the newest addition to public information infrastructure, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC RADIO 97.3FM in Abuja on Thursday.
The Minister who expressed delightful over the commissioning of the station said, it is very gratifying to see one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies extending its public communications and engagement reach by establishing an FM radio station.
According to him, “As a public-facing agency, it is indeed very important for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be deliberate and strategic about shaping the narratives around the all-important war being waged against corruption in our country.
“Rest assured that as the Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation of Nigeria, I will do everything in my power to support your goals and objectives.
“We will also, working through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to ensure that we encourage other relevant public sector agencies to do likewise, contribute to the task of informing, enlightening and sensitizing the public”, he said.
The Minister emphasized on 5-point Agenda at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, to amplify the policies and the programs of Federal Government, happied that this new partner of the EFCC RADIO 97.3FM will join to assist in achieving this goal.
On the first pillar of the 5-point Agenda which is restoring public trust, Idris charge the management and the staff of this new station, to strive to operate at all times by the timeless principles and ethics of the practice of broadcasting and journalism.
The Minister said to them, “You are our valued partner as we seek to rebuild and restore the trust of the Nigerian public in the information coming out of the Federal Government”.
Idris congratulated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on this impressive feat and wished them the best as they commence operations fully.
The EFCC Boss, Ola Olukoyede described the commissioning of law enforcement newest FM radio station as a milestone while went down memory lane concerning conception and crystallization of the idea of a Radio Station for the Commission.
He denounced the scourge of fake news and its attendant disservice to the works of the EFCC, maintaining that the Radio Station would help the Commission tell its own stories more accurately.
Olukoyede said, “Communication offers us stronger weapons for breaking half-truths, lies, insinuations and other distortions of the works we do. Indeed, with our own Radio Station, we are in a better position to tell our stories, factually, ungarnished and unspun”.
He commended all those who played various roles in birthing the vision that has finally crystallized, particularly commending the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC for investing in the vision of the Commission at a time when ownership of license by public institutions was completely novel.
According to him, “For us, owning a radio is not a status symbol but an important organ of mobilization against graft where public engagement have the same impact and depth as our operational activities. Indeed, we are in a better position to tell our stories”.
“This avenue I believe will deepen the relationship with the public towards the fight against corruption. It is important to let people know about what we do, recognizing that radio has a wider reach so the next step is to increase the coverage so that the public can reach out to us and we too can reach out to the public” he said.
