Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called for strengthened international collaboration to combat the growing threat of disinformation, misinformation, and strategic misperceptions undermining global peace and diplomacy.
Tuggar made the call in Abuja on Wednesday during the 2025 Diplomatic/Security International Conference organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN), with the theme: “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy in an Era of Global Insecurity, Strategic Misperceptions, and Disinformation.”
Represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Minister described disinformation as a weapon increasingly deployed by both state and non-state actors, exacerbating insecurity and public distrust across borders. He identified diplomacy, intelligence, and the media as critical tools in countering this growing threat.
He said Nigeria has experienced firsthand the dangers of false narratives — from manipulated media in conflict zones to disinformation campaigns targeting its democratic processes and military operations.
“The antidote lies in a tripartite alignment,” he stated. “Diplomacy to confront misperceptions with truth; intelligence to ensure data-driven foreign policy; and media engagement to shape global narratives proactively rather than reactively.”
Tuggar emphasized the importance of adopting a rights-based, coordinated global strategy that includes capacity building for digital diplomacy, inclusive multilateralism, and renewed support for Africa’s peace and security architecture, especially through Nigeria’s leadership in ECOWAS and the African Union.
DICAN Chairman, Mr. Idehai Frederick, said the conference aimed to equip diplomatic and security journalists with tools to report more responsibly in an era of global information disorder.
Also speaking, Ambassador Bolaji Akinyemi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs encouraged DICAN to maintain high standards of professionalism, stressing that their role goes beyond reporting to verifying facts and promoting national interest.
The Chief of Defence Staff, represented by Director of Planning, Defence Headquarters, A. Haruna, emphasized that an informed populace is essential for national security.
Other speakers included Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, who praised the conference’s timeliness, and Mr. Abdul-Rahman Balogun of NIDCOM, who urged media practitioners to educate Nigerians—especially the diaspora—about factual information and institutional mandates.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Kabiru Abdullahi, representing the Inspector General of Police, stressed that disinformation constitutes a criminal offense and must be treated as a national concern. Similarly, Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria, urged journalists to wield the power of the pen responsibly.
The conference concluded with the presentation of awards to distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to diplomacy, media, and national development.
