“We cannot be distracted by corrupt people,” says ministry over trending video against Pantami

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has condemned a video and write ups making the rounds in social media targeting to portray the minister, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, as undermining one of the heads of an agency under his ministry.

Also, the statement, released today in Abuja, declared as false, allegation that the minister sent out some pressmen during the commissioning of several projects and programmes of the ministry in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari including the unveiling of the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, and the launching of the Emergency Communications Centre and Toll Free Number 112, among others.

“It was not, and it is not his role, neither was he aware of the incident at the time it took place. The original statement from the affected parties confirms this. The leadership of Dr Pantami, has brought an unprecedented level of synergy amongst the agencies and parastatals under his purview, as remarked by the president himself, at the same event,” said the statement signed by spokesperson to the minister, Mrs Uwa Suleiman.

The ministry condemned the attack as the work of “corrupt people who are not happy with sanitizing the sector, and the discipline which is being established” by Pantami.

Read the full statement below.

Indiscipline cannot be tolerated under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy

Our attention has been drawn to a video clip, which is currently trending on Social Media, maliciously targeting the person and office of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, MCPN. The three minutes and one second video which was edited from the live coverage of the commissioning of key projects of the Ministry, by the President on Thursday, 19th March 2020 was accompanied by a write up from a faceless writer, which reeks of falsehood.

The President, attended the event on the invitation of the Honourable Minister, and it was paramount that His Excellency’s timing be strictly adhered to, as earlier agreed at the preparatory meeting in the Presidential Villa, that all speakers at the event will; Adhere to the time allocated to them and, Limit their presentations to the responsibility(ies) assigned to them. The Honourable Minister regulated the speeches of both speakers namely, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and the Director General of NITDA.

By this public notice, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, hereby disclaims all misleading information surrounding the video and the write up. In the same vein, the office of the Honourable Minister, strongly debunks the allegation that, he sent some pressmen out of the premises. It was not, and it is not his role, neither was he aware of the incident at the time it took place. The original statement from the affected parties confirms this. The leadership of Dr Pantami, has brought an unprecedented level of synergy amongst the Agencies and Parastatals under his purview, as remarked by the President himself, at the same event.

We therefore, urge all well-meaning Nigerians, to disregard any and all information contrary to the true events as stated here, which took place before a crowded auditorium. We cannot be distracted by corrupt people who are not happy with sanitizing the sector, and the discipline which is being established, The person and office of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, is committed to the development of a digital economy.