Chapter 22
Reforms of the Information Sector
Background
The Ministry of Information which has the responsibility of projecting the positive image and reputation of the Nigerian nation, has grappled with how to project, communicate, sensitise and educate the citizenry as well as the international community on the policies, programmes and activities of government.
Past Reform and Achievements
The Ministry has developed a number of strategic communication plans for Government policies. The Ministry rolled out talk shows, discussion programmes, interviews, and documentaries on MDAs, on national media organizations, namely, FRCN, NTA, VON, NAN. Following the lifting of the 2003 ban on the printing of Federal Government Calendar and Diary in 2011, the Ministry produced and widely distributed the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Federal Government Calendars and Diaries.
The Ministry has digitised the archival registry and developed a virtual media resource centre, developed strategic plans for review of Journalism and Mass Communication curricula, and has also made functional the broken-down printing machines at the Federal Government Press. It has continued to publish the Federal Tenders Journals, a one-stop shop for all government procurements, thereby enhancing transparent in the procurement process in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The Ministry has further ensured the completion of 27 FM Stations and 30 community TV stations, reduced by 33% breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code by broadcast stations, transformed NAN from a text-only agency since 1978 to a multi-media organisation in 2007, successfully promoted Made-in-Nigeria Goods campaigns, executed with support from the World Bank a campaign to eradicate Avian Flu in Nigeria, and widely publicized awareness materials on the prevention and control of Ebola Virus Disease after its spread into Nigeria.
Challenges and Next Steps
The quality of various government websites, which is currently very low, should be vastly improved. Information Centres in Nigerian Missions should be reopened to coordinate the external publicity of Nigeria, while carrying out extensive multimedia domestic publicity of Government which is yet to take advantage of the internet. NTA and NAN should be upgraded to such international statuses as those of Aljazeera and Reuters respectively.