The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has cautioned Nigerians to be wary of foreign narratives that portray the country as unsafe or deeply divided along religious lines, warning that such propaganda could destabilize the nation like Iraq and Libya.
Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, issued the warning on Wednesday during the 2025 Press Week organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held in Abuja.
Issa-Onilu condemned recent foreign commentaries alleging widespread religious persecution in Nigeria, particularly remarks by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who claimed Christians were being systematically targeted.
“Nobody takes Senator Ted Cruz seriously. I do not see any respect, dignity, or integrity around him ever,” Issa-Onilu said. “Any Nigerian echoing such propaganda should have a rethink. They should read about what happened to Libya and Iraq — countries destroyed by lies about weapons of mass destruction. We must not allow that to happen here.”
He emphasized that information warfare has become a major tool for undermining nations, urging the Nigerian media to guard against being used to spread divisive or misleading narratives.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the NUJ, FCT Council, Grace Ike, underscored the media’s vital role in shaping national identity and unity.
“The media holds immense power in informing, educating, and shaping the values that bind us as a nation,” she said. “In today’s fast-paced information age, responsible journalism that promotes national unity, ethical standards, and social cohesion is more important than ever.”
The warning comes amid renewed claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria — allegations recently repeated by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and talk show host Bill Maher. The Nigerian government has strongly dismissed the assertions as false and divisive, insisting that the nation’s security challenges stem from terrorism, banditry, and criminality, not religion.
Two weeks ago, the Nigerian Senate also described the genocide claims as “baseless and dangerous,” reaffirming that such narratives could threaten the country’s fragile peace and unity.
Headline alternatives you could also use:
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NOA to Nigerians: Don’t Let Foreign Propaganda Turn Us Into Another Iraq
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Beware of Fake Narratives, NOA Warns — “We Won’t Be Another Libya”
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Issa-Onilu Blasts Ted Cruz, Urges Media to Defend Nigeria’s Image
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