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Nigerian ex-Minister Stresses Trust Building as Essential Crisis Management Strategy
Former Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has called on business leaders and public institutions to prioritize building public trust as a fundamental shield against reputational damage and operational crises. The ex-minister delivered this message during a Guest Lecture Series at the University of Abuja, recently renamed Yakubu Gowon University, on Thursday.
Speaking to an audience of academics, students, and professionals, Mohammed presented a lecture titled “Crisis, Communication and Commerce: What Business Leaders Can Learn From Government,” where he emphasized that communication should be considered a central strategic pillar rather than merely a supporting function.
“In both government and business, communication is not the support act. It is the strategy itself,” Mohammed stated, according to a statement released by Nnamdi Atupulazi, Head of Strategic Communications of his Media Office. The former minister warned that organizations treating communication as simply a publicity tool face significant and avoidable damage when crises emerge.
Mohammed drew extensively from his eight-year tenure in the Buhari administration, during which he managed government communications through several national challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East region, the COVID-19 pandemic, periods of civil unrest, and what he described as “widespread misinformation.”
The former minister emphasized that effective crisis management requires proactive trust-building long before emergencies occur. “Trust is not a communication tool. It is the infrastructure upon which all communication rests,” he noted, highlighting how early engagement with journalists, labor groups, and local language media strengthened government messaging during his time in office.
Mohammed outlined six key principles that institutions should adopt to protect their reputations: building trust early and consistently; ensuring actions match public statements; identifying credible messengers; establishing real-time monitoring systems; actively countering misinformation; and transparently explaining the reasoning behind controversial decisions.
He cited specific examples from his ministerial experience, including organizing media tours to communities liberated from Boko Haram control. “When your narrative is under attack, proof is more powerful than position,” Mohammed said, arguing that verification through direct observation often carries more weight than official statements alone.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided another instructive case study, according to Mohammed. He described how government communications during this period required flexible systems incorporating multiple languages and community leadership structures to address misinformation and encourage public compliance with health measures.
The former minister expressed particular concern about the evolution of misinformation in the digital age, characterizing it as a serious risk factor for both governments and private organizations. “Misinformation is no longer merely a political problem. It is now a business risk,” he cautioned.
Mohammed also addressed controversial policy decisions during his tenure, including Nigeria’s temporary suspension of Twitter (now X). He maintained that public understanding of difficult decisions depends on sustained explanation. “Hard decisions require more explanation, not less,” he advised.
His lecture concluded with a stark warning that institutions failing to build trust proactively often find themselves overwhelmed during crises, while those that invest in credibility beforehand typically weather challenges with less reputational damage.
Mohammed served as Minister of Information and Culture from 2015 to 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away earlier this year. Before his ministerial appointment, he was a prominent opposition figure who served as the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the party came to power in 2015.
His perspectives on crisis communication come at a time when Nigerian businesses and institutions face increasing scrutiny in an era of rapid information dissemination and social media influence, making his practical insights particularly relevant to both public and private sector leaders navigating today’s complex communication landscape.
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8 Comments
Interesting to see a former government minister sharing these lessons on crisis communication. The parallels between public institutions and private enterprises are clear – effective stakeholder engagement is critical for maintaining trust and legitimacy.
This is an insightful take on the evolving role of communication in corporate crisis management. The mining and commodities industries would do well to heed this advice and elevate communication to a strategic priority.
Agreed. Reputational risk is a major threat, and proactive, transparent engagement can help build the social license needed to operate effectively. It’s a lesson many companies are still learning.
Interesting perspective on the importance of crisis communication and building public trust. Effective crisis management requires proactive, transparent, and empathetic communication, not just publicity.
I agree, communication should be a core strategic function, not just a supporting role. Cultivating trust with stakeholders is crucial for weathering operational challenges.
Lai Mohammed makes a valid point – in today’s environment, communication can make or break an organization’s reputation, especially in high-impact sectors like mining and energy. Developing a strategic communications capability is essential.
As the mining and extractives industries face increasing public scrutiny, this emphasis on trust-building and crisis communication resonates. Companies must engage communities authentically to maintain their social license to operate.
Absolutely. Reactive, opaque crisis management will only erode public confidence. Proactive, transparent communication focused on shared value creation is the way forward.