Recently, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed decried the unregulated use of the social media and other digital platforms globally.
Mohammed, a lawyer by training dropped the hint while delivering his welcome address at a session of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
From our point of view, Mr Mohammed needs not worry about the global trend because many more countries, especially the developed ones have designed technological apparatuses to ensure they are always a step ahead of social media users in terms of keeping them on leash.
Can we say the same thing about Nigeria? The answer is definitely no. As a matter of fact, there are many more debilitating challenges like insecurity, power supply and dearth of infrastructure waiting for the governments at all levels to contend with. It is, therefore, unlikely that those in positions of authority will pay necessary attention to the issue of regulating the social media for now.
However, it is in the best interest of the government in power at the center specifically to lift more than a finger to caution social media users in the country.
This is even more crucial because as the magic year of 2023 approaches, the political terrain is getting ‘riskier’ to traverse. Adding to the debacle is the sharp demarcation between the supporters of the three major presidential candidates- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party. All their supporters have become BATified, ATIKUlated and OBIdient – and they are ferocious and aggressive in the ways they promote their different candidates.
In view of this, there can be no better time for social media users in Nigeria to be seriously cautioned.
A stitch in time can save more than nine if proper and timely steps are taken.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
