SPOTLIGHTS
- Onanuga acknowledged the hardship faced by Nigerians and assured them of the government’s commitment to alleviating it
- He encouraged Nigerians to engage in agriculture to combat rising food costs
- The presidency pledged support for ethical online journalism and collaboration with ACOE
From Idu Jude Abuja
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has confirmed the presidency’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of Nigerians. He also stressed that all well-meaning Nigerians should play prominent roles in leading the country, especially the media.
Onanuga made this statement over the weekend in Abuja while receiving the Association of Corporate Online Publishers (ACOE). He confirmed that all Nigerians would need to embrace agriculture to combat hunger.
Read also: Newspaper unveils online platform
“On the part of the government, I want to tell you that I cherished this meeting; we will do our best. Once I have your contacts, anything we want to send to this group in terms of government information, we will use that contact to pass information to the group. Also, when we get to the festive period, we would know who to approach in terms of talking to the entire group,” Onanuga said.
“That is the spirit.
“I am here to assist the president. When he started, I wasn’t part of the media team; I was the publicity secretary for the campaign. Later, the president realised something was missing, and that’s when I came on board.
“I will do my best, drawing from over forty years of experience, to help the government communicate its message effectively.
“Currently, things are not working as the president wants, but I can assure you that in the next twelve months, Nigerians will begin to see the results of the government’s efforts for the country’s benefit.
“Though people complain about hardship, I told the BBC that the cost of living crises exists globally. Maybe what is happening in the world is a cycle, and countries will have to go through certain difficulties. We are going through it, but this government is making serious efforts to reduce the hardships faced by our people.
“For example, a lady showed us a basket of tomatoes being sold for ₦4,000, and in Lagos, it is ₦10,000, and in Abuja, it is ₦8,000. I bought a basket of mangoes for ₦1,000 in Ogbomoso, but in Lagos, only three mangoes were sold for ₦1,000. There might be sabotage or profiteering by traders, but the solution is for all of us to engage in agriculture. Let’s start planting something in our yards.
“In 1976, Obasanjo introduced ‘Operation Feed the Nation’, promoting farming. In 1984, when Buhari came in, there were shortages of rice, milk, and sugar, and the government had to open warehouses to make these items available to people.
“This is not the first time we are going through this kind of crisis. The government is investing in agriculture to make things available and affordable, and as individuals, we also have a role to play.
“I will be starting my farm very soon. Everyone should farm. We don’t need to depend on greedy traders who are making us suffer. This is why I am welcoming all of you to my office at the Villa for collaboration. Thank you,” Onanuga concluded.
Meanwhile, Onanuga has expressed the presidency’s support for the formation of the Association of Corporate Online Publishers (ACOE) in Nigeria, established to develop ethical journalism and regulate the proliferation of online media. He pledged the federal government’s collaboration with the association.
Onanuga expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and good wishes extended by the members of the association, stressing that the presidency is interested in working with the association because of its ethical direction.
Onanuga emphasised the importance of synergy among existing online media bodies to enhance on-the-job proficiency, effectiveness, and the dissemination of news in line with global best practices, particularly in light of the influence of online media over traditional media.
“I want to thank you all for wishing me a happy birthday, even if it’s a day late. I hope all of you live long, healthy, and prosperous lives. I wish the best for all of you as I wish for myself. Thank you very much,” he said.
“I extend a warm welcome to the Association of Corporate Online Editors. This is the third online association we have encountered. We are already dealing with two others, although I can’t recall their names at the moment. However, your presence is appreciated. The more associations we have while dealing with Nigeria’s information architecture, the better… I’ve heard someone say that the government is not communicating effectively, but I want to debunk that. We are communicating through various channels. The media landscape has changed significantly with the rise of numerous actors and platforms.
“There are social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and others. If you shift away from traditional media, you’ll find that numerous individuals own online media outlets. The information system is so diverse now that we cannot welcome every entity operating in this space. So, in addition to the two associations I mentioned earlier, you are also very welcome,” Onanuga stressed.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration and in-depth reporting for online platforms. He urged online platforms to work together to improve the quality of news and information. He suggested that by pooling their resources and working in synergy, online platforms could produce more in-depth and informative content.
He advised online publishers to consolidate their platforms to ensure more depth in their news stories, as opposed to simply publishing shallow content. He emphasized the need to avoid using unnecessary adjectives in news reporting and stressed the importance of rigorous journalism.
Finally, he encouraged online publishers to come together, stating that collaboration would result in richer and more compelling content.
“You will also see that advertisement placements follow; you will discover that your traffic will automatically increase because readers want quality. But if you are operating in silos, it is never going to be easy at all,” Onanuga warned.
Expressing unwavering loyalty to his appointed role, the media aide to the president assured the audience of his commitment to President Tinubu’s vision to alleviate Nigerians from the current economic setback facing the country. He called on Nigerians to be more patient with the administration while pledging the necessary media support to the visiting editors, ACOE.
Earlier, Mr. Martins Odiete, the Chairman of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet with Onanuga. Mr. Odiete highlighted ACOE’s modus operandi and emphasised the importance of working with the presidency’s media team for media collaboration and the growth of the nation.