Veteran Journalist under the banner of League of Veteran Journalists (LVI) in Oyo state has raised alarm over the pervasive effect of fake news in the country. Mr Banji Ogundele, the Chairman of the Association made this known while speaking at the Veterans Day programme organised by the Oyo state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) today. The programme was part of the activities the NUJ organised to mark the year 2021 Press Week.
Ogunlade called on the authorities to roll out stiffer sanctions against peddlers of fake news to save the country from falling apart because of the effect of fake news.
He also tasked the NUJ at their end to take a drastic step if the industry must continue to be what it used to be in the country.
In his statement, “We are worried about the cases of fake news.
“We are the only profession that anyone can just jump and join.
“What can the NUJ do? Maybe with the collaboration with veterans to curb these incidents of fake news.
“People will ask us what we are doing to eradicate the incidents of fake news.
Ogunlade reiterated, “I am charging you the NUJ chairman to take it to the national level that there is a need to regulate the media.
“It is a challenge to all of us”.