The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Dele Alake, has stated that he will support any proposal by the Senate to regulate social media in Nigeria.
The ministerial nominee made the remark while answering questions during Wednesday’s ministerial screening on the floor of the Senate.
“The downside of social media is that it is detrimental to a good and decent society. What I would support is the strengthening of regulations,” Mr. Alake said.
“There are laws that guide our conduct in every area of human endeavour, but the application of these laws has been shut down.
“I will recommend the strengthening of our regulations and the application of those laws. The laws must be tested so we can know the proficiency of those regulations. I will support anything that comes from this hallowed chamber that promotes that course of action,” Mr. Alake added.
The anti-social media bill was vehemently opposed by a vast majority of Nigerians during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s rule, but it has remained a recurring issue in national debate.
During the 2023 presidential election, President Bola Tinubu stated that he no longer monitors trending events on social media due to the abusive and hostile reception he gets from Nigerians.
“I don’t need social media anymore. They abused the hell out of me. If I read it, I will have high blood pressure and get angry, so I don’t read it. If I want to hear anything, my children or any of my workers will inform me about what people are saying,” he said.
