Social media bill suffers setback with 80% opposition at senate hearing

The bill seeking to regulate the social media has been widely opposed at the senate public hearing on its consideration.

At the hearing which was held in Abuja on Monday, 80 percent of the speakers opposed the protection from internet falsehood and manipulation bill, asking the lawmakers to drop it.

Only three of the 25 agencies and groups who spoke were in favour of the bill, while two said they had no definite position on the matter.

Among those who threw their weight behind the proposed legislation are the Nigerian army and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

Most of those who spoke against the bill argued it is a ploy to clamp down on free speech, and that it is also against the tenets of the 1999 constitutional and international treaties adopted by Nigeria.