By Adeyemi Adekunle
Claim
An argument ensued following a claim by the current minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani he said, he is the first minister to commence weekly update in Nigeria.
Tijani who made the statement while on a program tagged Prime Time on Arise News channel where he pointed out his achievement since his appointment as the number one man in charge of Federal Ministry Communication and Digital Economy in Nigeria.
Verdict
This is FALSE. A simple search reveals that the idea of weekly brief was announced by the minister of information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris in may 2024.
But searches show before the announcement the current minister of Interior,Hon.Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is the first minister to commence weekly report of his ministry activities in the administration of Bola Tinubu a move that earned him “Public Service Person of the Year 2023” by Leadership newspaper.
Here is one of his weekly updates
https://www.pulse.ng/articles/local/minister-tunji-ojo-plans-to-protect-nigerias-borders-with-tech-2024072616275664440
Full Text
Since the current administration comes into power there have various policies made by various ministries.18 month after each ministers have been coming out to give reports on how their policies have shaped the economy of the country.
In one of the avenue provided was the one where the minister of communication and digital Economy mentioned himself as the first minister who started given weekly updates in Nigeria an arguments that didn’t go well with some Nigerians.
An X user @Imranmuhdz shared the video of the interview with a caption that reads, “I’m probably the first minister in the history of Nigeria to give weekly updates and weekly reports on its own activities; this is fact, it is all over social media.”
– Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani
This post generated more than 85.3k views and 90 people reposts on X.
Before been debunked by LENS CHECK however argument erupts from other X users.
Another X user countered the minister, @onsogbu wrote, ‘Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo @BTOofficial started it”.
An X user known as @ekitiketekan
Said “Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo @BTOofficial started weekly and monthly report graphics and videos, ask around. He is still giving till today. He even added interior minister weekly report”.
Verification
A simple Search showed that it was commenced by Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo started the act of giving weekly reportage of his activities as a serving minister.
He almost make it an everyday duties given updates on his X handle.
Conclusion
The statement made by the Honourable Minister of communication and digital Economy, Bosun Tijani that he is the first minister to give weekly score card in Nigeria is not true. Therefore it’s FALSE.
