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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Federal Government Hails Otu as Cross River Revives Newspaper Corporation and Printing Press

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Information Minister Mohammed Idris praised Cross River State for reopening its newspaper corporation as the Cross River Information Hub and commissioning a new government printing press.
  • Officials described the project as an investment in credible public communication, professional journalism and democratic institutions.
  • Idris said technology and artificial intelligence may change journalism’s tools, but cannot replace truth, accuracy, fairness and professional judgment.

The reopening of Cross River State’s newspaper corporation is being presented as more than a renovation project. Information Minister Mohammed Idris called it the restoration of an institution and a renewed commitment to credible information, professional journalism and effective communication in government.

Speaking in Calabar, Idris praised Governor Bassey Otu’s administration for rebuilding the corporation rather than abandoning it. Established in 1971, the institution served the state for decades through publications including the *Nigerian Chronicle* and *Weekend Chronicle*. It has now been renamed the Cross River Information Hub, while a new Government Printing Press was commissioned alongside it.

Government cannot effectively serve people without effectively communicating with the people.

· Mohammed IdrisThe information minister explained why the revived Cross River Information Hub matters to democratic governance.

Idris linked the project to Otu’s “People First” philosophy, arguing that government cannot serve people effectively without communicating with them effectively. He said the new hub should become a centre for credible journalism, digital innovation, professional development and public engagement, rather than simply a renovated building.

Technology may change the tools of journalism, but it cannot replace truth, accuracy, fairness and professional judgement.

· Mohammed IdrisHe described the standards he expects the new information hub and journalists to uphold.

The minister also addressed the changing media environment. Technology has accelerated news distribution, and artificial intelligence is reshaping content creation, but he said the need to verify information and establish truth has become more important. He urged journalists to put accuracy, ethics and credibility first, warning that public trust can be difficult to recover once lost.

Idris also defended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy. He called the decision difficult but necessary to redirect resources to infrastructure, education, health care and security. He urged political actors and media professionals to support national unity and guard against misinformation.

The removal of fuel subsidy is a difficult decision, but it is necessary to free resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare and security.

· Mohammed IdrisHe defended a key economic reform of the Tinubu administration.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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