The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged the media to consider the peculiarity of Nigeria based on ethnic and religious diversities in news reportage. The Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya said this at a one-day seminar on the Media and National Security organized by the DSS in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for members of the DSS press corps. Afunanya presented a paper titled, “Fake News and National Security”, where he urged journalists to ignore fake news because it was designed and distributed with the intent of misleading people into believing falsehood.

The Federal Government (FG) has issued a response to an allegation by US-based non-profit organization, Global Advocates for Terrorism Eradication (GATE) that the Nigerian government was sponsoring terrorism. The response was issued in a statement on Sunday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The statement reads in part, “Is it not curious that this organization has chosen this particular time, when terrorists are either surrendering in droves or running helter-skelter, as a result of a renewed offensive against them by the military, to orchestrate a distraction? What could be GATE’s motive if not to weaken the fight against terror and banditry?

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Professor Ayo Omotayo as the Director-General (DG) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) located in Kuru, Plateau State. This was contained in a letter titled, ‘Request for confirmation of the appointment of Prof. Ayo C. Omotayo Ph.D. as Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).’ The letter was read during the plenary on Tuesday by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has on Thursday declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse on Monday, leaving over 35 persons dead. The Commisioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso disclosed this in a statement, noting that all flags in public and private buildings would be flown half mast during the period.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has on Thursday announced the cancellation of its sit-at-home order scheduled to commence on November 5, 2021, in the South East, supporting the governorship election in Anambra State. The separatist group has earlier declared a sit-at-home in effort to discourage residents of Anambra from exercising their franchise in the November 6 governorship election in the State.

American billionaire, entrepreneur, and investor, Jeff Bezos, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari climate change agenda and his role in restoring degraded lands in the country. The billionaire who joined the President alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Charles and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at a COP 26 side event described the restoration as exemplary.