Reps Want FG To Stop Rebranding Campaign

ABUJA, Sept 05, (THEWILL) - The House of Representatives wants the federal government to discontinue the rebranding project being spearheaded by the Information and Communication Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili saying the campaign has outlived its usefulness.

Chairman of the House Committee on Information and National Orientation, Honourable Ahmed Aliyu Wadada who disclosed this in Abuja today said the committee viewed the rebranding campaign of the Minister as "unnecessary and a waste of time".

He said, "as far as we are concerned the Ministry of Information and Communication is up and doing but we have reservations to the focus of the Ministry, which is re-branding campaign. What are we rebranding? Rebranding comes when there is a product and it is a product that you brand and eventually rebrand when the need comes up to create a new attraction some new level of acceptability for such a product."

According to Wadada, what Nigeria need is orientation and reorientation of the citizenry to educate, enlighten and make them focus on how to move the nation forward, adding that "with due respect, based on where we are and our attitudinal problems, Nigeria as a country we have all the materials to produce a product but we are yet to have a product."

The lawmaker noted that "Nigeria needs to be marketed at home and beyond so that it will be accepted and be bought as a product. What the ministry should be focused on is orientation and reorientation.

The chairman disclosed that the committee would soon convene a stakeholders meeting to its the reservation known to the minister.