The Federal Government has warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder if the issue of fake news is not urgently addressed, insisting on the regulation of social media in the country.

The House of Representatives has, however, warned against clamping down on free speech and press freedom.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values were sharply divided on the matter on Tuesday.

Mohammed had appeared before the committee to defend the 2021 budget proposed by his ministry.

The minister, 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 the social media, making reference to the ongoing #EndSARS protests.

Mohammed stated that the government was not seeking to shut down social media space in the country because “the social media has come to stay.”

He, however, stressed the need to have a policy that regulates social media and check fake news and misinformation.

He 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 committee, however, cautioned the minister.

A member, 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.

Oghene stated that it will be wrong to always look at the negative sides of the social media at all times without mentioning the good side.

source: https://punchng.com/endsars-we-must-regulate-social-media-before-it-destroys-us-fg/

Mumu

Useless man go and regulate it

He'll no sir, I think we first of all need to Regulate corrupt politicians before the Social Media.

Because they're Nigeria's real challenge not Social Media

Abeg joo I will Design a Professional Logo or Letterhead for your Product or Company For 2k only

You people are joking!! Because DJ Switch exposed your atrocities on social media you are looking for means to scuttle it

Make them go on nah

Anything from the mouth of uncle Lai is Lie

Never, we prefer our freedom.

The devil is a Lai. A man that have never said a single truth since his existence. first regulate your lies before regulating social media

First regulate your brain. Instead of them to govern well and make life beautiful for the citizenry, they are there busy with what is not important.

What government should regulate first:

Corrupt leaders
Embezzlement of Public funds
Restructuring

There are clear and existential threats to public peace and order by the monster of fake news but there’s also the competing and prevailing force of authentic news if certain measures are taken by social media users.

The information regulatory bodies should concern themselves with advocacy for verifying information before it is circulated.

As far as I’m concerned government over time has proven to be the highest purveyors of fake news as they continuously engage in peddling half truths and outright lies to advance their narrative of looting and injustice against the interests of the masses.

In saner climes Lai Mohammed should have been removed from such a sensitive office due to his track record of spreading falsehood and hallucination inspired comments.

Its impossible joo

Regulate stupidity and lootocracy in governance first....

That's the way to go... It's now or never

All those who have a working brain know so.

Or was it not social media that informed us that Eniola Badmus was killed at the Lekki protest?

FG is mad with its analogue mindset.This is not 1983-85 era of the wicked decree 2 and 4.There are more ways of getting information in this generation.So instead of gagging the social media, the government should regulate BH terrorists, Bandits, Chronic debt pillage, wastage in governance,

These people are fully illiterate that doesn't understand how the 21st century work. If the Almighty America couldn't regulate their social media, is it Lai Mohammed that his phone is operated by a youth that will regulate it.

if you off Nigeria IP, we will use VPN.

This is 21st century where technology has gone far.

Very true.

In a sane state, that DJ socket should be behind bars by now.

Cmon will you keep quiet.

I support this because we are in a dangerous time. A simple fake news on WhatsApp can set a state on fire or cause inter-ethnic strife in a country filled with semi-literates such as Nigeria. However, any regulation must be apolitical and require proper legal process.

nonsense

na only media be your problem.

why can't you face other things. You are not only the minister of communication but also CULTURE!!!!

May God in his infinite Mercy strike all of you.

damnnn niggarrrr
He pain lai Muhammad

This endsars protest really work well because of social media

.... This wan na POWER of social media Destruction

This man is really mad