Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed has stated that the Federal Government is not planning to shut down the internet.
He put to bed reports going around that the Nigerian Government was planning to shut down the country’s internet services in Nigeria.
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The minister made this known at a meeting with editors of newspapers on Friday in Lagos. Mr. Lai Mohammed, who complained bitterly about the dangers of Fake news and how it was used during the #EndSARS protests, said the government would seek ways to ensure responsible use of social media but certainly not by shutting down the internet.
Lai speaking during the meeting said: ‘Our fears about the abuse of social media, and specifically the dangers posed by fake news and disinformation, have come to pass. During the protest and the subsequent violence, fake news and disinformation were the order of the day.’
‘Social media was used for mobilisation, and it was also used to guide arsonists and looters to properties, both public and private, which were targeted for attack.’
Celebrities who were listed as killed at Lekki quickly dispelled the report of their deaths. Discerning Nigerians exposed the fact that pictures of some non-Nigerians were used to justify the hoax massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate.’
‘This development has strengthened our resolve to work with stakeholders to stop the abuse of social media. It has also rekindled the debate on the need to regulate social media content, a debate that is not limited to Nigeria.’
‘On our part, we will not sit down and allow a reckless use of social media to aggravate our fault lines and throw the country into turmoil. But in curbing the excesses of social media, rest assured, gentlemen, that we will neither shut down the internet nor stifle press freedom or free speech, as some have insinuated. We also acknowledge that social media is here to stay.’
Meanwhile, Nigeria Government has continually sought for ways to limit Nigerians from speaking up especially as it concerns corruption, human right abuses and bad governance going on in Nigeria under Buhari Led APC. Many legislatures believed to be government surrogates have introduced different social media bills aimed at punishing those who spread fake news or insult government officials.
These moves by the government have always met condemnation and rejection by Nigerians of all strata. People have seriously condemned the moves by the government owing to the fact that the government in power owes their ascension to Nigeria seat of power to social media.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
