Nigeria plans to regulate social media use in the country

The National Council on
Information (NCI) has advocated
the setting up of a Council to
regulate the use of social media
in Nigeria.
The is as contained in a
communique issued at the end of
Extraordinary Meeting of NCI on
Hate Speeches, Fake News and
National Unity held on Friday in
Jos.
In the communique made
available to journalists on
Sunday, the Council
recommended the use of tough
measures in checking
conventional media and their
output.
The Council, presided over by
the Minister of Information and
Culture, Lai Mohammed, noted
that social media has no address
as such vetting and editing
posting in social media might be
difficult.
The Council recommended that
Information managers at the
state level should open a website
to counter report of any
misinformation posted by the
social media as quickly as the
hate speeches, misinformation
and fake news are posted.

It recommended immediate
tackling of whatever postings on
social media assumed or
presumed to be hate speeches,
fake news or misinformation by
the information managers in
various states.
The Council noted that social
media would play a very
important role in the 2019
elections thus the need to
effectively manage this channel.
It directed the Federal and State
Ministries of Information to use
jingles to promote peace and
come up with cartoons on the TV
and Newspapers telling the
dangers of fake news and hate
speeches.
“The collaboration must start
with National Orientation Agency
and the state governments,” the
Council recommended.
The Council underscored the
need to start talking to those
responsible for law and
enforcement of justice to address
the issues of citizens taking laws
into their hands.
The body also emphasised that
“the welfare of the people is
paramount, people well fed will
listen to their government”.
The Minister of Information
and Culture, Lai Mohammed , in
a keynote address, expressed
displeasure over the hate
emanating from radio station
broadcasts across the country
which according to him has
become alarming.
The Minister said the careless
incitement to violence and the
level of insensitivity to the multi-
religious, multi-ethnic nature of
the country must not be allowed
to continue because it is not good
for the unity and well-being of
Nigeria.
The National Council on
Information is the highest policy
making body for information
articulation and delivery in the
country.
Delegates to the Council included
Heads of Parastatal Agencies in
the Federal Ministry of
Information and Commissioners
for Information in the 36 States.
(NAN)