The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has cautioned Nigerians, especially the media against the spread of fake news, saying this could led to civil war.

He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a two-day international conference themed “Democracy and Disinformation: How Fake News Threatens our Freedom and Democracy in Nigeria: organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and MacArthur Foundation.

According to him, fake news is the greatest threat to democracy and security in Nigeria as it played a role in the civil war in the country and that Nigeria could not afford to fall victim to the same circumstances that led to the war.

“The government has been doing its best in educating the public on the dangers of fake news through various avenues. The ongoing infrastructure projects across the country like the agriculture empowerment programs are part of government deliberate effort to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities. Every one of us must verify information sent to them for authenticity before circulation,” Mohammed said.

Also, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, said that the regulation of media stations by the commission was to protect lives and property.

Kawu, who was represented by the Director of Policy and Research in the commission, Mr Mujtaba Sada, said that the regulation was necessary in order to protect citizens from the menace of fake news circulation.

On his part, a Senior Fellow at CDD, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, said the conference was meant to strategize on how to protect the future of Nigeria.

He said the conference was also to protect the nation’s democracy against the threat of fake news, as fake news was like a machinery aimed at distorting Nigeria’s election management and the electoral integrity.

He cited many examples of fake news from the social media including the monkey pox scare in 2017, when the army was alleged to be injecting school children with the deadly disease in the South-eastern part of the country.

On her part, the Director of the CDD, Idayat Hassan, said the conference was the culmination of months of research, planning and the realisation that with the upcoming elections, Nigerians must come together, at all levels to deal with the menace of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

“The experience in the country in the last few weeks is noteworthy. Following the killings of innocent Nigerians in several communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State in June this year, the media went agog quoting Mr Danladi Ciroma, a leader of Miyetti Allah in the North-Central, as saying the killings were a retaliation of previous acts of deadly aggression against Fulani residents and pastoralists in the state.

“It was later revealed that the statement credited to him was untrue as there was no evidence to back up the claim. Had Mr Ciroma not cleared the air on this matter promptly, we may not have imagined how it will further damage already battered relationships,” Hassan said.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-fake-news-can-lead-to-civil-war--lai-mohammed-264677.html

It's always war, blood, death with these people...

What kind of animals are these...

Nigerians, una see una lives....

SMH

Then stop propagating such. Anyway, apc end is nearer than expected. Buhari, a good man with bad intentions.

And lies can lead to more stupid ppl like d zombie plague we now suffer..

wat do u knw about democracy?

See who is talking the chief lier of africa zombie

Yes,he is saying the truth for the first time....because this man's lie has caused so much damage in some people's brain especially the zombies(BMC) which is gradually turning into civil war in there brainless head...

Like what happened today when those aggressive lazy idiotic terrorist senators said they mobilized thugs to invade national assembly because they heard APC senators were holding meeting in Sheraton hotel yesterday.
And so,
They went to the national assembly as early as 6am with thugs thinking APC senators were coming there to impeach thief saraki.
Whereas, APC senators according to senator Abe, they were neither in sheraton hotel nor in the assembly complex.
They were even watching the drama in their various home and they were all surprise at thief saraki false alarm.

Ok

Fascist wants to clamp down on free press

This is the same people that used fake news against Jonathan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8R3slB4I7I

Lai Mohammed speaks on Fake News

Abeg let the civil war happen already, it has always been an opinion, anything to help divide this country.

Those calling for war should pray not to see one google what people eat during war in Syria will humble all of you i fear for 2019 I pray military don't take over anything can happen the way this selfish politician are playing with life's of over 200 millions nigeria calls for deeper thinking in as much I don't like APC or PDP Rwandan genocide remind me such headline

It’s either your way or bloodshed, they threaten war at any opportunity. Buhari and bloodshed are like bread and butter

But your own lies can lead to global war

This country will divide if Buhari should continue. Hausa people already have weapons supplied by the customs.

[s]

buhariguy:
Like what happened today when those aggressive lazy idiotic terrorist senators said they mobilized thugs to invade national assembly because they heard APC senators were holding meeting in Sheraton hotel yesterday.

And so,they went to the national assembly as early as 6am with thugs thinking APC senators were coming there to impeach thief saraki.
Whereas, APC senators according to senator Abe, they were neither in sheraton hotel nor in the assembly complex.
They were even watching the drama in their various home and they were all surprise at thief saraki false alarm.

[/s]
Please stop occupying space & disturbing the internet if you cant reason beyond this incoherent babblings.May be you need an e-slap

"According to him, fake news is the greatest threat to democracy and security in Nigeria as it played a role in the civil war in the country and that Nigeria could not afford to fall victim to the same circumstances that led to the war."

So BH, Fulani herdsmen terrorists are no more the most dangerous threats but "fake news" or "hate speech" when already yourself & the satanic APC have been the harbingers of same Lai Muhammed is mad.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/no-journalist-is-in-detention-in-nigeria-minister/amp/ (Lai Muhammed).

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/274467-special-report-how-buharis-govt-detained-nigerian-journalist-for-two-years-without-trial.html

the political war in the NASS is enough for now thank you.
See my signature.

Lai Mohammed doesn't realise that over 20 thousand have died so far under this govt and for those 20 thousand that was their civil war

Hatred and crass nepotism would lead to civil war instead..

Btw I thought APC has warned this can of lies to stop speaking for them because people don't have confidence in him again?

Lie Mohammed

Arrest Dino, Ben Bruce, fani kayode and Reno , then, fake news will disappear.

agwom:
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has cautioned Nigerians, especially the media against the spread of fake news, saying this could led to civil war.

He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a two-day international conference themed “Democracy and Disinformation: How Fake News Threatens our Freedom and Democracy in Nigeria: organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and MacArthur Foundation.

According to him, fake news is the greatest threat to democracy and security in Nigeria as it played a role in the civil war in the country and that Nigeria could not afford to fall victim to the same circumstances that led to the war.

“The government has been doing its best in educating the public on the dangers of fake news through various avenues. The ongoing infrastructure projects across the country like the agriculture empowerment programs are part of government deliberate effort to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities. Every one of us must verify information sent to them for authenticity before circulation,” Mohammed said.

Also, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, said that the regulation of media stations by the commission was to protect lives and property.

Kawu, who was represented by the Director of Policy and Research in the commission, Mr Mujtaba Sada, said that the regulation was necessary in order to protect citizens from the menace of fake news circulation.

On his part, a Senior Fellow at CDD, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, said the conference was meant to strategize on how to protect the future of Nigeria.

He said the conference was also to protect the nation’s democracy against the threat of fake news, as fake news was like a machinery aimed at distorting Nigeria’s election management and the electoral integrity.

He cited many examples of fake news from the social media including the monkey pox scare in 2017, when the army was alleged to be injecting school children with the deadly disease in the South-eastern part of the country.

On her part, the Director of the CDD, Idayat Hassan, said the conference was the culmination of months of research, planning and the realisation that with the upcoming elections, Nigerians must come together, at all levels to deal with the menace of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

“The experience in the country in the last few weeks is noteworthy. Following the killings of innocent Nigerians in several communities in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State in June this year, the media went agog quoting Mr Danladi Ciroma, a leader of Miyetti Allah in the North-Central, as saying the killings were a retaliation of previous acts of deadly aggression against Fulani residents and pastoralists in the state.

“It was later revealed that the statement credited to him was untrue as there was no evidence to back up the claim. Had Mr Ciroma not cleared the air on this matter promptly, we may not have imagined how it will further damage already battered relationships,” Hassan said.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-fake-news-can-lead-to-civil-war--lai-mohammed-264677.html

Civil war between which regions?.