The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged agencies under the ministry to brace to the challenges of building a united and progressive country.
Mohammed made the call when he received members of the management of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who came to him on a courtesy visit to congratulate him on his re-appointment, in Abuja on Friday.
He reminded the agency and other organisations under the ministry, to be conscious of their mandates and responsibility to the country and as such must avoid acts that might not be in the interest of the state.
The minister promised to intervene in the case of the agency toward solving its operational challenges.
Earlier, Mr Ibrahim Mammaga, the Editor-in-Chief and Acting Managing Director of NAN, congratulated the minister on his reappointment.
“We are particularly delighted, but not surprised that you are reassigned to this ministry, a familiar turf.
“You did so well in your first tenure, with your name practically becoming synonymous with the ministry”.
Mammaga identified the challenges confronting NAN to include the closure of foreign offices of the agency owing to poor funding.
He said the agency was also faced with the challenge of dwindling revenue, making it impossible to meet running cost and workers’ welfare.
The acting managing director urged the minister to use his office to assist the agency.
He pledge to take the advantage of NAN’s presence in every part of the country to mobilise Nigerians to support government policies and build a strong indivisible nation.
In the delegation were, Mr Chukwudi Ekezie; NAN Managing Editor, Abdulhadi Khaliel, Acting Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr Oladele Ojo, Acting Director of Finance and Accounts and Mrs Stella Benjamin, Acting Director Legal Services.
