Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) – The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Information says media reports claiming that the Federal Government is denying accreditation to foreign journalists who want to cover the February14 general elections is false.
In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary in the Information Ministry, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, described the claim as a deliberate ploy by some politicians to smear the image of the Federal Government ahead of the elections.
She noted that in line with the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Information to create media access to report on the activities of the Federal Government, it has so far processed 300 applications from foreign journalists to secure visa and come into the country for the elections.
Yemi-Esan said that hundreds of other applications received by the ministry were being processed at the moment adding that those who could not secure their visas from Nigerian embassies abroad probably did not follow the due process to secure the accreditation.
She appealed to foreign journalists wishing to come into the country to cover the elections to follow the due process in securing accreditation including the presentation of official correspondence from their organizations.
“They can equally apply online using the following email address: epd@nigeria.gov.ng,” she added.
Photo: Snipview
