The Federal Government has stated that no fewer than 476 online media outlets are working to pull down the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He added that placing Twitter on an indefinite suspension was a hard decision to take because of its importance as information dissemination and business channel.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed stated this at a meeting of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) with information managers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal and state levels in Lagos.
The meeting was also an avenue to identify challenges facing information managers and chart better ways of pushing positive narratives about the government.
Mohammed spoke on ‘Mitigating Contemporary Challenges of Information and Communication Management – Regulatory Issues and Requirement.’
Host Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu used the opportunity to reassure residents of his government’s determination to do more to meet their yearnings
Mohammed said, “It was a tough decision(suspension of Twitter) to take, considering that many of our youths also use the platform for business
He identified poor funding, new digital media and lack of synergy among information managers of government as some of the challenges to be overcome before the war against misinformation could be won.
He said, “Perhaps, the most daunting task anyone can take on, in this age and time, is that of information and communication management. It is even more daunting when you are engaged in information and communication management for a reformist government like ours.
“While the task of government information and communication management is daunting in normal times, today, with the advent of new information and digital technology, the word ‘daunting’ becomes an understatement.
“We daily face challenges posed by the new information and digital technology. Government information managers face the paradox of technology.
“On one hand, information, and digital technology provide us with great opportunities, and on the other hand, it is fraught with great challenges. We are therefore tasked, daily, with how to balance this paradox and make the best of it.
“The social media is a double-edged sword, providing opportunities and challenges, perhaps in equal measures. We recently had to suspend the operations of Twitter because of the threat posed by the gross abuse of the platform to the nation’s peace and unity.
“Twitter is the platform of choice for separatist campaigners, especially those of them residing outside the country, who use it to issue directives to their followers in Nigeria to attack our security forces as well as to burn police stations and INEC(Independent National Electoral Commission) offices. It was a tough decision to take, considering that many of our youths also use the platform for business. Such is the challenge posed by social media.
“At its (Twitter) request, the government has agreed to engage with Twitter and, hopefully, we can both chart a path forward, without compromising our national interest.
“While many have accused us of stifling the press with the ban, we say Twitter is just one of many social media platforms being used by Nigerians. WhatsApp, which is most used by Nigerians, is there. And there is Facebook, Instagram, Google hangout, etc.
“It is also not uncommon to hear, in certain circles, that not enough is being done to publicise government’s achievements. Herein comes the issue of sustainability. To keep programmes running, you need a massive infusion of resources.
“Unfortunately, the funding of Federal Government’s information sector is far below par, due partly to the paucity of funds, and in part because of the little premium that we, as a nation, place on information and communication management. To put things in perspective, the budget of the Information ministry in some states is higher than that of the Federal Government
“Then, and this is avoidable, there is the painful lack of synergy among managers of information and communication in all strata of our government. The clear demarcation of responsibilities is breached at will, as we seem to be competing against ourselves. Information Managers rarely compare notes, thus duplicating efforts.”