The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, has cautioned Nigerians against lending credence to foreign propaganda portraying the country as unsafe or divided along religious lines.
He warned that such narratives could plunge Nigeria into chaos similar to what befell Iraq and Libya.
Issa-Onilu issued the warning on Wednesday at the 2025 Press Week organised by the News Agency of Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja.
“Nobody takes Senator Ted Cruz seriously. I do not see any respect, dignity or integrity around him ever.
“Any Nigerian who is also pushing such na arrative should have a rethink. He should read about what happened to Libya. He should read about what happened to Iraq.
“With the cry and propaganda about weapons of mass destruction, till today, they have all come out to apologise that there was nothing like that. But where is Iraq today? We should be careful,” the NOA boss said.
Issa-Onilu urged the media to resist being used as a tool for destabilisation, noting that information warfare has become one of the most potent instruments for undermining national sovereignty.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Federal Capital Territory Council of the NUJ, Grace Ike, stressed the media’s central role in shaping national identity and promoting unity.
The media holds a powerful position in our society. It not only informs and educates but also shapes the values that bind our nation together.
“In a world where information is instant and far-reaching, the media’s role in promoting national unity, ethical standards and social cohesion has never been more critical.
“National values are the foundation of our shared identity and progress. Through responsible journalism, we uphold these values by fostering transparency, accountability and dialogue,” Ike said.
Claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria resurfaced last month after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, during a podcast with television host Bill Maher, alleged that Christians were being “systematically targeted and killed” — a situation he described as genocide.
Maher and political commentator Van Jones echoed the claims, accusing the Nigerian government of complicity.
The Nigerian government swiftly rejected the allegations, maintaining that insecurity in the country stems from terrorism, banditry, and criminality — not religion.
Two weeks ago, the Senate also dismissed the claims as “false, divisive, and capable of undermining national unity.”
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