The Nigerian government has said it will take legal action against Daily Trust newspaper for its report on the Samoa Agreement, claiming the report is false and could cause social and religious tensions.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced on Saturday in Abuja that the government would file a complaint with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and might also take the matter to court. He called the report “fake and mischievous.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Idris spoke at a press conference. He was with the Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The Daily Trust report claimed the Nigerian government signed an agreement to support the rights of LGBTQI+ people and would receive $150 billion for doing so.
The agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement, was signed on June 28 at the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.
Minister Idris called the report a “gross falsehood.” He said it is part of a pattern of reckless reporting by Daily Trust since the Bola Tinubu administration began.
He stated that the Tinubu administration values good relations with the media, but criticized some media outlets for abusing this freedom.
Idris mentioned that Daily Trust has published several misleading stories, such as claims about military bases and renaming roads, without evidence.
Idris said the government would follow the rule of law and seek redress through legal means, rather than using harsh measures. He emphasized the government’s support for ethical journalism and free speech, but warned against spreading fake news that could harm national security.
The government plans to take the matter to the NPAN Ombudsman and use lawful means to address the issue in court.
