Governors and monarchs in the South-West region, during a meeting held on Sunday in Lagos, voiced out their support for government's move to ensure the regulation of the social media. Following the meeting, which was attended by Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, among other key government officials, a communique was issued wherein the leaders lamented the negative effect of fake news peddled on social media during the recent #EndSARS protests and the attendant violence.
The communique reads in part "We recognise the damaging and negative impact of fake/false news and worry about its destructive and dangerous potency of fake news. We call on the federal government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and those regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news . 2015 Cyber Act will also be fully used.
"Federal Government should ensure that technology is used effectively for the advancement of the Nigerian Security and not its destruction by working with the technology cum social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. The regime of checks and gatekeeping should be fully employed."
The leaders also urged the FG to resolve the impasse between itself and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to allow students return to the classroom.
Recall that last week governors and leaders from Northern part of the country declared their support to the government for making moves towards regulating social media, which it said is responsible for spreading of 'fake news' which is capable of destroying the country if left unchecked. The governors and elders called for major control mechanisms adn censorship of social media practice in Nigeria.
