The latest aggression of the United States and Israel in West Asia is not only redrawing geopolitical lines—it is also reshaping how global events are perceived and reported across the Global South. In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and one of its leading oil producers, the conflict has intensified scrutiny of Western media narratives and accelerated a shift toward alternative sources of information, stronger South-South cooperation, and even debates about economic independence, including a gradual move away from reliance on the U.S. dollar.
At the center of this transformation is Nigeria’s evolving media landscape, led by institutions such as the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). NAN is news reporting agency owned and run by the Federal Government of Nigeria As the country navigates both internal diversity and external pressures, its media are increasingly asserting their role not just as observers, but as active participants in a changing global information order.
Challenging Western Media Dominance
For decades, international news coverage in Nigeria, as in much of Africa, has relied heavily on Western agencies such as Reuters, AFP, and AP. However, recent conflicts—particularly those involving the United States and Israel—have deepened skepticism about how these narratives are framed.
In an interview conducted in Istanbul, Türkiye, during the STRATCOM summit of the Directorate of Communications of the Turkish Presidency, Malam Ali Mohammad Ali, Managing Director of NAN, described to us a growing awareness in Africa of how its image has historically been shaped by external actors.
“What is very important for us from Africa… gives us the chance to tell our own stories,” he said. “In the past, Africa is presented as a dark continent, literally living in the Stone Age. This is something that has been propagated by Western media. They tell, they define the story, they determine what is the story.”
Ali suggested that the current geopolitical climate—particularly the U.S.–Israeli military actions—has exposed biases in global reporting and reinforced the need for African media to assert editorial independence. Nigerian outlets are increasingly questioning dominant narratives and seeking perspectives that better reflect their realities.
The Rise of South-South Media Cooperation
A key response to these concerns is the expansion of cooperation among media organizations in the Global South. Nigerian media are strengthening ties with counterparts in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, creating alternative channels for news-gathering and dissemination.
Ali emphasized that such cooperation is essential for correcting long-standing imbalances in global storytelling. At a practical level, this shift is reflected in how Nigerian media handle international news. “Now there is an alternative,” Ali said. “Any story we see, we cross-reference from the global south… Take for instance, Xinhua is there as an alternative to the hegemon called AFP or Reuters.”
This approach marks a significant departure from earlier reliance on a narrow set of sources. By diversifying information streams, Nigerian media are contributing to a more pluralistic global information environment.
Information Warfare and Media Responsibility
The current conflict has also highlighted the growing importance of what many describe as an “information war.” Competing narratives, amplified by digital platforms, are shaping public opinion as much as events on the ground.
In Nigeria, media organizations face the challenge of navigating a saturated information space filled with both credible reporting and misleading content. Mohammad acknowledged the complexity of this task.
“A war of information and misinformation and disinformation is currently going on,” he said. “The environment is so saturated with all kinds of information… it’s for you to filter that and to take what is authentic to the people, your own consumers, down there in rural Africa, in the Global South. And it has to go through a lot of filtration process, which, because of the Global South media understanding, for example, has given us alternative views, alternative sources of stories.”
This filtering process is particularly critical in a country with vast regional and socio-economic diversity. Nigerian journalists must ensure that their reporting remains credible and relevant, especially for audiences in rural areas who may have limited access to multiple sources.
South-South cooperation plays a crucial role here as well, providing alternative viewpoints that help contextualize global events and reduce dependence on any single narrative.
Public Perception in Nigeria
The impact of U.S.–Israeli military actions on Nigerian media cannot be separated from public opinion. Nigeria’s population—estimated at over 220 million—is deeply diverse, with strong religious and cultural identities that influence how international conflicts are perceived.
Ali noted that opinions in Nigeria are far from uniform. “Nigeria is a country that is populated by people of faith,” he said, explaining that some interpret the conflict through religious lenses, seeing it either as an attack on or a defense of faith.
Despite these divisions, he indicated that a dominant perception has emerged. “Mostly it’s seen as an unjust war… perpetrated by a state or two states that are driven… by the thought that they are the global policemen,” he said.
This critical view resonates with broader sentiments in the Global South, where skepticism toward Western foreign policy has grown in recent years. Nigerian media reflect these perspectives, often framing the conflict in ways that emphasize power imbalances and questions of sovereignty.
Nigeria’s Strategic Role: Population and Oil Power
Nigeria’s influence in shaping these narratives is closely tied to its strategic importance. As Africa’s most populous country, it represents a significant share of the continent’s media audience and political voice. Economically, Nigeria’s status as a major oil producer places it at the center of global energy discussions.
These dynamics are increasingly reflected in media coverage, where economic and geopolitical issues are often intertwined. Nigerian outlets are not only reporting on the conflict but also analyzing its implications for global energy systems and financial structures.
Moving Away from the U.S. Dollar
One of the most significant emerging themes in Nigerian discourse is the question of monetary independence. The dominance of the U.S. dollar in global trade—particularly in oil transactions—has long been a point of contention in the Global South.
According to Ali, there is growing public interest in alternatives. “Ordinary Nigerians… look forward to an alternative payment mode other than the dollar,” he said. “The dollar has become so arrogant… it’s not giving commensurate returns to the dollar trade regime.”
He clarified that these views reflect popular sentiment rather than official government policy, but they nonetheless indicate a broader shift in thinking. Nigeria’s participation as an observer in BRICS and its currency swap agreements with countries like China are seen as steps toward diversifying economic partnerships.
Ali suggested that these developments are part of a global transition. He said many Nigerians believe that the international system is moving toward multipolarity, where no single currency or power dominates.
This economic dimension is closely linked to media narratives. As Nigeria explores alternatives to Western financial systems, its media are also seeking alternatives to Western information systems, reinforcing the broader push for autonomy and balance.
Conclusion
The U.S.–Israeli military actions in West Asia have acted as a catalyst for change in Nigeria’s media landscape. They have intensified skepticism toward Western narratives, accelerated the growth of South-South media cooperation, and sparked debates about economic independence, including a move away from reliance on the U.S. dollar.
Through institutions like the News Agency of Nigeria, the country is playing a leading role in redefining how global events are reported and understood in the Global South. The insights of Malam Ali Mohammad Ali underscore a broader a shift toward greater control over narratives, stronger international partnerships, and a more assertive global presence.
In an era defined by both geopolitical conflict and information competition, Nigeria’s experience illustrates how the Global South is not merely reacting to global events—but actively reshaping the frameworks through which those events are interpreted.
