No going back on social media regulation – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has stated that
the federal government will be moving on with its plan to regulate
social media.

Lai Mohammed who disclosed this weeks after he denied the existence
of a bill for the regulation of social media in an interview with an
international news platform, said they have already contacted two
major platforms; Facebook and Google.

He told newsmen in Abuja yesterday February 20, that their aim is to
ensure that damages are not done to the country through the social
media.

 “We are pushing ahead with our plan to sanitize the social media,
working with stakeholders. By March 2, 2020, we will inaugurate a
stakeholders committee that will deliberate and recommend the way
forward.

“We are also planning a major international conference that will
bring together the tech companies, media practitioners, policy makers
and others as part of efforts to tackle this growing canker-worm

“Last week, I met with representatives of Google and Facebook for the
same purpose. The situation is dire, and no nation that values its
peace, security and stability will allow an irresponsible use of the
social media.

“There has been a spike in the dissemination of fake news and the use
of disinformation in recent times. This is not accidental: Fake news,
disinformation and hate speech have become the weapons of choice to
create tension in the polity and destabilise the country.

“And those behind them, the naysayers, are not about to relent. Those
behind this campaign of fake news and disinformation have also deployed
new tactics, top of which is the recycling old news items and videos.

“For some people, the 2019 elections are not over. They are stuck in
the pre-election mode. And they must continue to use these weapons to
put Nigeria on edge.”

Lai Mohammed also revealed plans of floating a new ‘communication
regulations’ which will record all calls, monitor WhatsApp, Twitter and
Facebook.

“Another good example is the video of the over 400 young men
suspected to be Boko Haram members who were intercepted in Abia State in
2014.

“About two weeks ago, the video came back into circulation, creating
panic in the polity. The intention of those behind it  is simple: to
create tension and panic in the country.”

He pointed out some fake news he claimed were passed off through
social media and they include;  President Buhari will be travelling to
the United Kingdom for 20 days before proceeding to Saudi Arabia and
Austria; Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi was attacked at
Rigasa train station in Kaduna and that the Nigerian Air Force killed
250 Boko Haram insurgents.