The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised some journalists and activists for what he described as presenting personal opinions as the collective views of Nigerians.
Keyamo made the remarks in a post on social media platform X on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
In the post, Keyamo said he found it “amusing” that certain journalists and opposition figures portray their own views as those of “the Nigerian people.” He asked how such individuals had “aggregated the views of ‘the Nigerian people.’”
Keyamo questioned whether their claims were based on interactions with small groups of people at specific locations, including the entrance of the National Assembly, comments from a small number of lawmakers, or comment sections on social media.
The minister listed examples of scenarios he said did not constitute broad public opinion, including:
- Those who gather at the entrance of the National Assembly and speak on camera.
- The voting behaviour of a minority of lawmakers in the National Assembly.
- Individuals who appear frequently on television or social media to voice opinions.
He pointed to these examples as not reflecting an aggregation of national public opinion.
Keyamo also urged Nigerians to be cautious as the 2027 general election season draws near. He said, in his post, that some journalists and commentators he described as “neutral” may be working for specific interests, although they do not publicly declare their affiliations.
The minister’s comments came amid ongoing public discussions and debates over major national issues among media, civil society groups, and political observers ahead of the future election cycle.
Keyamo’s remarks follow a period of active public debate on electoral and governance matters in Nigeria. Recent legislative activity, including amendments to the Electoral Act 2026, has drawn attention from various segments of the public and media.
In those debates, some political parties and civil society groups have expressed their views on provisions of the law and their implications for the electoral process. However, official positions on the matter vary among different actors.
