Nigeria has on Thursday launched the Federal Government of Nigeria Information App (FGN IAPP), designed to provide real time information on federal government activities to both Nigerians and non-Nigerians as well as getting necessary feedbacks.
During the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the introduction of the app was in line with the mandate of his Ministry to lead in the management of the image and reputation of the people and policies of government through a professional and dynamic public Information system that facilitates access by citizens and the global community to credible and timely information about Nigeria.
According to him, “We realized early on that in order to get undiluted and factual information directly to the people, we will have to do things differently. This is because those who are opposed to this Administration’s Change Agenda, including the corrupt elements in our society who have chosen to fight the government with their ill-gotten wealth, have taken it upon themselves to distort our messages and obfuscate our activities to give the impression that the government is not doing anything.
“Irrespective of where you are in the world, from today all you need to do is to download the FGN IAPP, and you will have access to factual and real time information on the activities of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“There are also a host of value-added services. For example, every Nigerian can now access the Tender Journal that is published twice a month to announce available government jobs. This is revolutionary in the sense that it will enable more people, irrespective of their locations, to bid for government jobs.
“Another value-added service is the ”BE INSPIRED” section. This makes it possible for any Nigerian, irrespective of his status, age or academic background, to meet top political, business, religious and other leaders.
“There is also the Feedback Section that allows anyone so interested to make his or her feelings known about any government policy or programmes, plus those seeking government jobs can now have information about genuine vacancies in the public service.
The minister however pointed out that government had done a lot to better the lot of Nigerians and they would not allow the opposition to stifle the progress by leaving the public space for “naysayers”.
“A government that has achieved the unprecedented feat of creating 200,000 jobs in one fell swoop cannot be said to have done nothing.
“A government that has liberated every inch of our occupied territory from Boko Haram and sent the terrorists fleeing should not be portrayed as not doing anything.
“A government that is surely and steadily making our country self sufficient in staples such as rice, a government that has embarked on a massive infrastructural renewal and a government that is boldly tackling an economic recession that was foisted on it by years of profligacy, lack of savings and a sudden crash on oil prices deserves accolades, not vilification.
“We will continue to evolve innovative ways of ensuring that there is no communication gap between the government and the people, and we will never succumb to the antics of Internet trolls, hack writers and pseudo analysts/experts who work daily to fool unsuspecting Nigerians”, the minister stressed.
