Nigeria Risks Becoming Another Libya, Iraq Over Foreign Propaganda — NOA Warns

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has warned Nigerians against lending credence to foreign propaganda designed to portray the country as unsafe or deeply divided along religious lines.

Issa-Onilu, who spoke on Wednesday in Abuja, said such false narratives could drag Nigeria into chaos similar to what happened in Iraq and Libya.

He specifically dismissed recent comments by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who accused the Nigerian government of complicity in what he described as the “systematic killing of Christians.”

“Nobody takes Senator Ted Cruz seriously. I do not see any respect, dignity or integrity around him ever,” Issa-Onilu said.

“Any Nigerian who is also pushing such a narrative should have a rethink. He should read about what happened to Libya. He should read about what happened to Iraq. With the cry and propaganda about weapons of mass destruction, till today, they have all come out to apologise that there was nothing like that. But where is Iraq today? We should be careful.”

The NOA boss urged the Nigerian media to resist being used as a weapon for destabilisation, warning that “information warfare has become one of the most potent tools for undermining national sovereignty.”

Earlier, the Chairperson of the NUJ Federal Capital Territory Council, Grace Ike, emphasised the critical role of the media in strengthening national identity and promoting unity.

“The media holds a powerful position in our society. It not only informs and educates but also shapes the values that bind our nation together,” Ike said.

“In a world where information is instant and far-reaching, the media’s role in promoting national unity, ethical standards and social cohesion has never been more critical.”

The renewed debate over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria began after Senator Ted Cruz, in a podcast with TV host Bill Maher, claimed that Christians were being “systematically targeted and killed” in the country.

Maher and political commentator Van Jones supported the claim, accusing the Nigerian government of complicity.

However, the Nigerian government dismissed the allegations, insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality — not religion.

Two weeks ago, the Nigerian Senate also condemned the claims, describing them as “false, divisive, and capable of undermining national unity.”