Lai Mohammed Accuses Corrupt Elements of Muddling FG’s Work

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, has blamed corrupt elements for frustrating the determined effort of the present administration to fight corruption.

He made this claim while addressing the staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi where he attended the international conference on the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas, saying that while government fights corruption, corruption also fiercely fights back, via unsuspecting sources. Mohammed said the fight against corruption was the biggest challenge confronting the administration.

He similarly revealed that the ministry intended to on December 15, launch an Information App that will provide real time information to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

He also said the ministry was considering setting up a foreign service information system as part of plans to furnish the Missions with much-needed information, especially for prospective investors and tourists.
He disclosed, however, that the town hall meetings, which have been held in five states including Abuja, would be held on a sectoral basis from next year, in order to provide more information to Nigerians on key sectors like agriculture, infrastructural development and the economy.

Mohammed also announced that efforts are being made to revitalise the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which he said is the closest to the grassroots, with a view to strengthening it to be able to communicate the programmes and policies of the administration to Nigerians. ‘’We are reinventing the NOA in a more professional manner. The challenge is to better equip the NOA staff with the latest communication facilities so that they can do their work more effectively,’’ he said.

Issues raised by the embassy staff in their interaction with the minister include the suspension of flights to Abuja by Emirates Airlines, the visa restriction to Nigerians willing to travel to the UAE, the need for Nigeria to tap from the $350 million renewable energy fund that is available in the UAE and the possibility of Nigeria partnering with the UAE Red Crescent to assist the Internally Displaced Persons in the North-east.

Among top officials of the embassy who attended the meeting are the Charge d’Affaires, Nura Rimi, Aliyu Hamman (Minister – Economic); Rabiu Lawal (Minister –
Consular); Zakari Usman (Senior Counsellor);. Adesoye Samotu (Senior Counsellor), Bukar Salihu Malgin (Finance Attache) and Mohammed Bashar Magaji (Immigration Attache).