Categories: Nigeria News

End SARS: We must regulate social media before it destroys us – FG

The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned that the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder if the issue of fake news is not addressed with urgency, insisting on the need to regulate social media.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made the statement while defending his ministry’s 2021 budget to the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values on Tuesday, October 27.

Mohammed, while responding to questions from members of the committee, noted that the next war to be fought in the country and across the world might be fought on social media, making reference to the ongoing EndSARS protests.

He added that the government was however, not seeking to shut down or muscle social media in the country.

But he further stressed the need to have a policy that regulates social media and check fake news and misinformation.

The minister said, “The biggest challenge facing Nigeria today is fake news and misinformation. Based on that, we dedicated an entire National Council on Information’s meeting to that issue, after which we launched a national campaign against fake news in July 2018.

“We said, then, that the next war will be fought without a shot being fired, but with the use of fake news. We didn’t stop there. We went on a tour of all media houses to solicit their support in the fight against fake news. We launched the campaign to regulate social media, which was bitterly contested by the stakeholders. We kept saying that if we don’t regulate social media, it will destroy us. Social media and fake news will not destroy Nigeria.

“The recent EndSARS war was fought on social media. They mobilised using the social media. The war today revolves around two things. Smartphone and data and these young men don’t even watch television or listen to radio or read newspapers. You will be shocked that when you start arguing with your children, they will be quoting the social media. So, we need a social media policy in Nigeria and we need to empower the various agencies and we need technology to be able to regulate the social media.”

Members of the House of Representatives committee however, warned against clamping down on free speech and press freedom.

Hon. Emmanuel Oghene, warned against any attempt to shut down the social media in the country, saying the action will be counter-productive and would make the youths to believe that there is an attempt to truncate democracy in the country.

Treasure Orokpo

A multi-talented individual with a passion for diverse fields, Treasure Orokpo is a trained journalist, skilled cook, and AI enthusiast. When she's not uncovering the latest stories, you can find her whipping up culinary creations in the kitchen and entertainment.

Recent Posts

Newly promoted NSCDC officer collapses, dies in restroom after salary alert

A newly promoted officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), identified only…

4 hours ago

Why Tinubu promoted Acting COAS Oluyede to Lieutenant General – Presidency reveals

President Bola Tinubu promoted Acting Chief of Army Staff Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede to the rank…

4 hours ago

Nigerian govt Scraps 18-year admission requirement for tertiary institutions

The Federal Government has officially scrapped the contentious 18-year age requirement for admission into tertiary…

4 hours ago

Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea govt takes action as more videos leaks onlines

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has restricted citizens from using mobile data to download and…

5 hours ago

BREAKING: Tinubu promotes Acting COAS Olufemi Oluyede to Lieutenant General rank

President Bola Tinubu has promoted Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Olufemi Oluyede to the…

5 hours ago

BREAKING: Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea restricts WhatsApp amid leaked videos

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has restricted citizens from using mobile data to download and…

8 hours ago