Lai Mohammed Blasts CNN Over EndSARS Crisis

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has asserted that the #EndSARS protests were eventually taken over by individuals pursuing hidden agendas, despite their initial emergence as a legitimate outcry against police brutality. He made this known while speaking at a high-level forum at the London School of Economics and Political Science over the weekend.

According to reports from Ireporter Online, Mohammed explained that the demonstrations, which began as peaceful expressions of dissatisfaction, were later intensified by the spread of false information and misleading narratives. He described the situation as a clear case of how disinformation can aggravate already tense circumstances, particularly following the deployment of troops to the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

The former minister alleged that international media coverage, especially by CNN, relied on unverified and, in some cases, manipulated content. He argued that such reporting amplified tensions and contributed to shaping a global perception that, in his view, did not accurately reflect events on the ground. Mohammed emphasized that the crisis was driven not just by communication gaps but by a combination of misinformation and escalating violence.

Reflecting on his time in office, he highlighted the government’s communication approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that a strategy centered on transparency and regular briefings helped secure public confidence, with approval ratings reportedly reaching as high as 97 to 98 percent.

On the issue of insurgency, Mohammed recalled organizing a media tour to areas in the North-East previously under the control of Boko Haram. He stated that taking about 40 journalists to the region helped counter extremist propaganda and reinforced public trust in the military’s progress.

Addressing the controversial suspension of Twitter during his tenure, he maintained that the decision was a calculated move aimed at curbing inciting and divisive content after attempts to engage the platform proved unsuccessful.

He further pointed to the introduction of nationwide town hall meetings as a major step in improving government-citizen communication, describing them as open forums that encouraged inclusive dialogue across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Mohammed also disclosed that upon assuming office, he encountered a lack of a structured communication system, prompting the development of a more proactive framework that combined both traditional and digital media to foster effective two-way engagement.