The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to combat fake news and disinformation with the launch of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI).

The initiative aimed at positioning Nigeria at the centre of global efforts to promote responsible information use in an increasingly digital world.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the move reflects a deliberate strategy to equip citizens with the skills needed to navigate a complex and fast-evolving information ecosystem.

He spoke yesterday at the close of the second day of the institute’s launch in Abuja.

Idris, who was represented at the launch by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dr Dili Ezughah, described the unveiling of IMILI as more than a ceremonial event.

MEANWHILE, former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has defended his decision to suspend Twitter, now X during his time in office, describing it as one of the most difficult choices he had to make in the interest of national security.

Mohammed, who spoke earlier, revisited the controversies that trailed his tenure, particularly his insistence on regulating social media and confronting fake news, the positions he said, often drew criticisms from the public, especially younger Nigerians.

He noted that his stance on misinformation made him a target of public backlash with many interpreting his advocacy for regulation as an attempt to stifle freedom of expression.

The former minister said his position on regulating social media had often been misunderstood, insisting that regulation should not be mistaken for censorship.

Also speaking, Secretary-General of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Lateef Olagunju, described IMILI as the outcome of years of collaboration.

Olagunju noted that the institute would empower citizens to access, analyse and share information responsibly, adding that it would position Nigeria as a key player in global efforts to combat misinformation.