REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRE FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATION (CCC), MAJOR GENERAL CHRIS OLUKOLADE (RTD), DURING A COURTESY CALL ON THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, MALLAM MOHAMMED IDRIS MALAGI, IN ABUJA

REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRE FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATION (CCC), MAJOR GENERAL CHRIS OLUKOLADE (RTD), DURING A COURTESY CALL ON THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, MALLAM MOHAMMED IDRIS MALAGI, IN ABUJA

Honourable Minister, distinguished officials, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), I wish to express our profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation for your endorsement and representation at the First National Crisis Communication Symposium on Digital Innovation, held in Abuja. 

Your gesture added weight and credibility to a gathering that brought together spokespersons, technology experts, security personnel, scholars and media professionals from across the country.

The symposium produced a comprehensive and actionable communiqué that reflects both the global challenges and emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of digital communication. From social media dynamics to the rise of artificial intelligence, the discussions made it clear that Nigeria—and indeed Africa—must act swiftly to avoid being left behind in this new era of information management.

The resolutions reached were clear and forward-looking. Stakeholders unanimously agreed that Nigeria must modernise its crisis communication system through stronger infrastructure, enhanced capacity and inclusive governance. A key recommendation was the establishment of an independent, multi-stakeholder National Crisis Communication Hub capable of real-time monitoring and coordinated responses to digital threats, including fake news, hate speech, and other forms of misinformation. This must be supported by clearer frameworks to regulate digital platforms and ensure the responsible deployment of AI. Our partnership with the NITDA is receiving adequate attention, and we seek your further backing and endorsement towards its success.

Continuous training for journalists, public relations officers and security spokespersons was strongly recommended—particularly in digital tools, advanced fact-checking and the detection of AI-generated misinformation. Strengthening media literacy was identified as essential to combating misinformation and safeguarding public trust.

To ensure sustainability, the symposium resolved to institutionalise annual crisis communication symposiums across all the six geopolitical zones through 2026, thereby deepening national capacity and fostering continuous learning.

Honourable Minister, permit me to highlight another critical pillar of national crisis communication: the need for coherent, cohesive and coordinated engagement among key stakeholders.  

Under the current administration, the CCC pioneered the monthly Strategic Communication Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) meeting, with the endorsement and partnership of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). We respectfully request your support for the renewal and strengthening of this platform with a representative from the Ministry of Information for technical supervision.

To enhance the quality and relevance of this monthly forum, we propose introducing the Crisis Communication Perception Index (CCPI). This index, as an upgrade to the monthly Media Review, will provide a data-driven assessment of how institutions communicate during crises, focusing on preparedness, responsiveness, transparency, public engagement and digital misinformation management. Through media monitoring, surveys, and stakeholder feedback, the CCPI will generate performance scorecards and insights to help institutions identify gaps, anticipate risks, and improve coordination. By promoting accountability, enhancing public trust and enabling timely, evidence-based decision-making, the CCPI offers a sustainable framework for modernising Nigeria’s crisis communication system.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Centre for Crisis Communication has served as the Secretariat of  the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) and has continued to support inter-agency collaboration across the security and emergency management ecosystem. Through research, training, media monitoring and advisory services, the CCC has helped institutions improve preparedness, counter misinformation and maintain public trust during crises. Our commitment to professionalism, evidence-based communication and interagency synergy remains unwavering.

Indeed, the hosting of the National Symposium on Digital Crisis Communication was itself a recommendation from a recent study conducted for the Centre by our consultant, Yushau A. Shuaib, titled Artificial Intelligence and Crisis Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. The study provides actionable recommendations for the Ministry of Information, NITDA and other stakeholders, reinforcing the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s digital crisis communication architecture. The Ministry will also find this our latest study very useful.

Honourable Minister, we stand ready to work closely with your office to advance these initiatives and to support your vision for a more responsive, transparent and technologically empowered national information system.

Thank you for your time, your leadership and your continued support.

Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), mni

Chairman CCC