Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's information minister and
spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Plans to create an umbrella association that will
regulate bloggers and online news platforms are being
put in place by the Nigerian government, SIGNAL can
report.



Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed in a meeting on Monday with selected
bloggers and publishers of online news platforms in
Lagos set the tone for the emergence of the new
platform which sources familiar with the plan disclosed
to SIGNAL will help the Federal Government regulate
and censor the activities of online news media.




Speaking to SIGNAL on Monday, an informed source
who did not want to be named disclosed that the idea
is to create an impression that the Nigerian social
media needs to self-regulate but the real agenda is to
create an umbrella body that the government will use as
a tool to muzzle the freedom enjoyed by online news
platforms.



“This plan has been in the works and today’s meeting
by the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed is a first
step by the Buhari government to create a body that will
censor online media. They claim it is self-regulation but
it is a scam and a subtle agenda to create a platform
that they will be controlling and using to set narratives
for the Buhari government.



If online publishers need a
platform to protect their interests from government
harassment and intimidation, is it not curious that the
government is the one suggesting it? It’s like going to
battle and your opponent is the one suggesting the kind
of bullet proof you need to wear”, the source elaborated.
Information Minister, Lai Mohammed today assured that
the Buhari administration will not stifle free speech
by seeking to regulate the Social Media or abridging the
rights of the citizens.
The Minister, who gave the
assurance in Lagos on Monday during a meeting with a
cross section of “Social Media Influencers”, however
said it is important for them to self regulate in order to
maintain their credibility.



”Let me assure you that the Federal Government does
not intend to stifle free speech or abridge the rights of
Nigerians to air their views freely.


We are not about to
regulate or stultify the Social Media. This explains why
we are asking you to self-regulate.That is why we are
encouraging you to rein in the impostors among you
and show restraint when dealing with issues of national
unity, issues of Nigeria’s sovereignty, as well as issues
concerning the lives and well-being of Nigerians.



”What I am saying in essence is that you must self-
regulate in order not to self-destruct. Self-regulation
allows you to weed out the charlatans among you in
order to maintain your credibility and ensure your
survival. Lose credibility and lose it all. That is the
stark reality. If you must survive and grow, you must
not compromise your credibility,” he said.


The Minister described as alarming the spiraling level of
hatred among Nigerians, especially the educated ones,
on the Social Media in recent times, saying that the kind
of debate that is being carried out on the Social Media
is exploiting the fault lines in our national unity.



”It (hate debate) is adding fuel to some low-intensity
fires and, if left unchecked, could conflagrate and
consume all of us. Remember, you need a peaceful
country before you can even dream of greatness. You
need a united, strong and virile country to provide the
necessary environment for your dreams to come true.


The Minister thanked the Social Media Influencers for
their contribution to the success of the last general
elections in the country that saw the emergence of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ruling party, and
urged them to partner with the Buhari Administration to
drive the change agenda, which is aimed at achieving a
paradigm shift in the way we do things.


The Minister assured that his doors are open and that
he is willing to work with the Social Media Influencers in
the interest of the good people of Nigeria.


”Feel free to call us to clarify issues, obtain facts and
figures on issues of national interest and to also give us
a feedback from the citizens. You are great Influencers,
and you set the agenda. There is enormous power in
your fingertips, and no one can ignore you,” he said.


www.signaling.com

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