Nigerians have expressed concerns over their right to freedom of speech and expression being subjected to social media regulation, as the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, insists that social media must be regulated because of fake news.
The Chief of Staff, at a recent event in Lagos, stressed the importance of accurate information in policy formulation and national development.
He berated the menace of social media in the dissemination of fake and wrong information, which has almost torn the country apart, stressing the need to regularize the framework of news dissemination on social media to avoid misinformation in the country.
The Chief of Staff revealed that “social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated. As many people do not understand, once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world, which is capable of causing great danger not just in society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information, which may include security of life.
Chronicle NG reports on how Nigerians reacted to the social media regulation trend.
Abba Abios addressed Femi Gbajabiamila with a message: “Before regulating social media in Nigeria, I urged you to use the same energy to regulate poverty, unemployment, inflation, food security, and foreign exchange.
“With all current problems in Nigeria, your (Gbaja) only problem is social media?
“If you don’t want to be criticized, then leave politics, leave Abuja, and return to your local Surulere.
“Denying civilians the right to freedom of expression is wickedness.
“This suffering is too much. Since my father birthed me, I never bought Garri 2000, but now one plate of Garri is 2000.”
“A Nigerian is feeling the Tinubu effect.
Femi Gbajabiamila is more concerned with “regulating” social media, Sport Dokita wrote with an embedded video reference.
No wonder Femi Gbajabiamila is saying social media is the problem because the truth cannot be hidden. Arewe Gabriel quoted Igbo history and facts posted on November 20, 2023: “3 years ago today, Ifeanyi Okereke, a newspaper vendor, was shot dead by Femi Gbajabiamila’s security aide in Abuja for no reason. The deceased wife gave birth to a two-week-old child prior to his death.
Eniola Daniel, Guardian Nigeria journalist, harps on bad governance: “It was Desmond Elliot; now it’s Femi Gbajabiamila calling for social media regulation as if we are in Iran, Saudi Arabia, or North Korea.
“Social media is not the problem, but bad governance and poor leadership.
“Sir, Femi Gbajabiamila, no one will complain or talk down on you with your grey hair if the country is good.
“We all want a better country; Nigerians are not happy leaving the country for greener pastures. Let any talk regarding SM regulation rest in peace.”
Mazi Nathan wants the government to focus on commodity prices. “The prices of this morning are no longer the prices of this evening.
“And these prices of today will no longer be the prices of tomorrow.
“But Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Femi Gbajabiamila’s problem is how to gag and regulate social media—the only opposition party in Nigeria.
The Chief of Staff said “As citizens become more interested in governance, it is the government’s obligation to ensure that engagement with citizens springs with shared agreement on what the truth is, what is real, and what is not,” the Chief of Staff said.”
