The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has lamented the devastating impact of misinformation, saying it has become a silent time bomb.
The police chief noted that a single false post is capable of causing chaos faster than a bullet can travel.
Egbetokun said this when the leadership of the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) visited him in Abuja.
The IGP said: “Misinformation has become a silent bomb; it does not destroy buildings; it destroys trust. A single false post can cause chaos faster than a bullet can travel.”
According to a statement signed by the National President, BAVCCA, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, and National Secretary, Tabuko Kennedy, the organisation noted that the spread of falsehood is not a vice peculiar to bloggers, but a national security threat that demands collective action.
The group said it would submit the Digital Content Practitioners (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2025 to the National Assembly.
“The bill seeks: Mandatory registration of all bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and online journalists with a National Digital Content Registry.
“Annual licensing tied to verifiable identity, ethics training, and compliance with the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and NUJ Code of Ethics.
“Criminal penalties for unregistered operators who publish content that incites violence, spreads health disinformation, or undermines national security.
“This bill is not about censorship, it is about accountability, traceability, and professionalism in Nigeria’s digital space,” the statement said.
It added: “BAVCCA pledges full support to law enforcement. Under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, any person—member or non-member—who knowingly spreads false information that endangers public safety will face arrest and prosecution. We shall submit a list of 47 repeat offenders to the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
