CoronaVirus: Facebook Partners Nigeria On False, Misleading Reports
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI, ABUJA – Disturbed by the spiraling degree of misinformation in the public space, the social networking site, Facebook, has pledged to partner with the Federal Government to check the spread of fake news and disinformation following the Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the partnership has become imperstive because it is obvious the purveyors of fake news will scale up their act to create panic and spread disinformation over the confirmation of the disease in Nigeria.
Speaking on the collaboration at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Alhaji Mohammed said; “We know that at times like this, purveyors of fake news and disinformation usually ramp up their acts. We are therefore urging Nigerians not to fall for the antics of purveyors of fakes news and disinformation
“Fortunately, Facebook is working with us in this regard. They have
asked Nigerians to report any false or misleading report on Facebook
and Instagram pages so they can immediately bring them down.
“They have also assured us that they are taking pre-emptive action to remove any false or harmful messages about this epidemic and public health in Nigeria 24/7. All that Nigerians are required to do is to flag any false or misleading report on the epidemic and Facebook will remove any such report.”
He said media agencies of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, like the NTA, FRCN, NAN, and VON, have been directed to intensify their ongoing sensitization and enlightenment campaigns to arm Nigerians with the necessary information to stay well.
According to the Minister, measures being taken by the agencies, include enlightenment
jingles on radio and television; as well as up-to-date reports on the efforts being made by Nigerian health authorities to ensure proper screening at the nation’s gateway.
A statement by Segun Adeyemi Special Assistant to the President on Media, Office of The Minister of Information and Culture, also quoted Alhaji Mohammed as saying that measures are already in place to handle possible cases; continued airing of documentaries on the disease by the NTA; and SMS sensitization messages being sent to Nigerians by the News Agency of Nigeria.
Alhaji Mohammed also said the National Orientation Agency (NOA), with its wide reach (offices in all the 774 local governments), is pushing the various sensitization/enlightenment programmes to all the nooks and
crannies of the country by translating the campaign to the major indigenous languages to expand their reach.
He added that Features on the disease (prevention, treatment, etc) are also being written and disseminated.
The Minister therefore appealed to all Nigerians not to panic, as the
Government is well-equipped to detect and handle any possible case or cases in the country.
