NGIJ, NOA Forge Alliance to Combat Misinformation

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has called for a strategic partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to promote ethical, evidence-based journalism and combat misinformation in Nigeria.

The call was made by NGIJ National President, Abdulrahman Aliagan, during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in Abuja.

Aliagan said both institutions have complementary mandates, noting that while NOA focuses on civic education, value re-orientation and public enlightenment, investigative journalism provides verified facts that empower citizens to make informed decisions and hold public institutions accountable.

“Investigative journalism is pro-accountability and pro-transparency. It is not antagonistic to government but designed to strengthen institutions and rebuild public trust,” he said.

He identified misinformation, declining public trust, social tension and civic apathy as key threats to Nigeria’s democracy, urging closer collaboration between journalists and NOA through joint public enlightenment campaigns, fact-checking initiatives and platforms for constructive engagement.

Aliagan also called for improved access to information and institutional support to create an enabling environment for ethical journalism. He stressed that investigative findings should be viewed as tools for civic education rather than attacks on government.

In his response, Issa-Onilu expressed concern over what he described as a steady decline in investigative journalism, citing reduced depth, weak fact-checking and the growing influence of unverified social media content.

“Facts are fundamental tools for civic orientation and national unity. When facts are no longer treated as sacred, society becomes vulnerable to ignorance, manipulation and conflict,” he said.

The NOA boss acknowledged the challenges facing the agency, including limited resources for voter education and civic enlightenment. He said poor civic education and weak reporting have contributed to widespread misunderstanding of electoral processes.

Issa-Onilu pledged support for NGIJ and proposed the establishment of a joint committee to identify concrete areas of collaboration, including counter-disinformation efforts and public interest journalism initiatives. He also offered to leverage NOA’s nationwide network of Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers to provide grassroots feedback and serve as potential information sources for investigative journalists.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a plaque bearing the National Value Charter to the NGIJ delegation as a symbol of shared commitment to civic responsibility and national values.

Both organisations expressed optimism that sustained engagement would help rebuild public trust, strengthen democratic culture and promote national cohesion through responsible journalism and effective civic orientation.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale