The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has cautioned Nigerians against giving credence to foreign narratives portraying the country as unsafe or divided along religious lines.

Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, issued the warning on Wednesday during the 2025 Press Week, organised by the News Agency of Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu said such narratives, if left unchecked, could plunge the country into chaos similar to what befell Iraq and Libya.

“Any Nigerian advancing these narratives should reconsider. They should learn from what happened in Libya and Iraq. Remember the propaganda about weapons of mass destruction? They later apologised for it. But where is Iraq today? We must be careful,” he warned.

He urged the media to resist being used as instruments of destabilisation, noting that information warfare has become one of the most potent tools for undermining national sovereignty.

Issa-Onilu’s warning comes amid claims by some foreign and domestic actors suggesting ongoing religious persecution in Nigeria. He stressed the need for Nigerians to exercise caution and verify information before lending it credibility.

The NOA chief called on journalists and media houses to maintain professional integrity and ensure their reporting does not contribute to unnecessary panic or division.