Fine for hate speech was increased from N500,000 to N5 million in the amended National Broadcasting Code to deter people who are willingly to violate the provision to destabilise the country, the Federal government has said.

Information and culture minister Alhaji Lai Muhammad, gave this explanation, on TVC live Programme, “This Morning”, on Friday, August 7, 2020.

Recall that in 2019, president Muhammadu Buhari directed the minister to increase the fine which was later stipulated in the in the amended Broadcasting Code.

“What motivated the amendment was that when the fine was N500,000 we saw the provision being violated at will because the amount was very easy to pay,” he said.

He noted that some desperate people knowing fully well that their broadcast content contain hate speech will insist that the broadcast stations should go on air, while they bear the cost of the fine.

According to him, those criticising the government over the increment should remember that hate speech could damaged the country.

He recalled that Rwandan lost 800,000 lives to hate speech while Bosnia and Cambodia equally lost thousands of lives to the menace.

He said, Nigeria is not the only country that placed sanction on hate speech, saying that some nations have more stringent provisions.

“Chad has today slow down the speed of its internet service to slow down the growth of hate speech.

“Iceland has a provision in its penal code against hate speech and the punishment is up to five years in jail.

The sanction in Norway is up to two years imprisonment while South Africa separated hate speech from the protection their citizens can get from the constitution,” he said.

Muhammad also explained that gate speach is not new, but the fact that it could be spread fast through the the social media platforms make it to be more problematic.

Therefore, the minister reiterated government commitment to regulate the social media without stifling the freedom of speech.


source: https://insidenaija.com.ng/2020/08/07/fg-explains-why-hate-speech-fine-was-increased-n500000-to-n5-million/

ole

This Buhari govt. Is the greatest fruad ever. Lots of countless hate speeches he made at protests during GEJ regime. Among all the problems facing Nigeria, it is increase in hate speech fine he took serious. Let judgement start from Aso rock. Bubu and his cohorts deem fit to be one grin . Nigeria has never been in safer hands.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/8776609_apcfilms_jpeg_jpega63e429575eb2b737db3788e3476969b

The Buhari govt has still not defined its own context of hate speech

Bast.ards!

funny