The Minister of Information and CultureLai Mohammed, stated that fake news and disinformation are exacerbating insecurity in some sections of the country.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja, while representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace, and Security, which was organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
“With concerns of peace, security, and national unity at the forefront of our national dialogue, this summit couldn’t have happened at a better moment.” Many Nigerians have been concerned about peace and security in recent years, particularly in the face of marauding terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers. Unfortunately, the security crisis has been compounded by the twin evil of fake news and misinformation,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed stated on August 10, this year, the Kaduna State administration had to disprove an internet story alleging that hundreds of bandits had laid siege to the Kaduna-Zaria route, providing several examples to clearly highlight how false news is feeding anxiety and anxiety in the country.
“Imagine the apprehension and disruption of plans that this fake news may have caused,” he added, adding that the widely distributed bogus news even warned visitors not to enter or depart Zaria owing to the presence of bandits near Dumbi and Jaji along the Zaria route. Imagine the impact on the security personnel who go to great lengths, even paying the ultimate price, to keep us secure.”
“Also, in April 2022, a drone footage of five individuals dressed in red attire cooking within an unknown forest became viral.” Those who circulated the video said it was shot in Nigeria.
However, when the BBC investigated the drone footage, it determined that it was not shot in Nigeria. The film was circulated solely to cause fear among residents and to put society on edge.
“In June 2022, there were allegations of robbers using a helicopter to target inhabitants in four Kajuru Local Government Area settlements.”
The Kaduna State administration had to dispel the allegation by stating unequivocally that the aircraft was an Air Force helicopter dispatched to resist an attack in the region. “Imagine the hysteria that this phony news would have caused,” they inister remarked.
He said that the providers of fake news and disinformation have not spared him, as a plethora of fake news has been ascribed to him.
Mohammed stated that his ministry is addressing the issue through the National Campaign against Fake News and Misinformation, a nationwide advocacy campaign, as well as working with various social media platforms such as Facebook and Google to reduce the spread of fake news and misinformation.
He was pleased that many CSOs had joined the battle against false news and disinformation, and that several newspapers had established fact-checking desks to refute fake news and misinformation.
The minister praised NIPR for hosting the summit in order to promote dialogue and national cohesion, especially given the country’s numerous challenges to unity, peace, and security.
