‘It has become a menace’ — Gbaja calls for regulation of social media

Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, says social media has become a societal menace that should be regulated.

Punch reports that the former speaker of the house of representatives said this while representing the president at the book launch of Babatunde Fashola, former minister of works, on Thursday in Lagos.

The book by Fashola is titled: ‘Nigerian Public Discourse — The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole’.

“As citizens become more interested in governance, it is the government’s obligation to ensure that engagement with citizens springs with shared agreement on what the truth is, what is real and what is not,” Gbajabiamila said.

“Social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.

“As many people do not understand that once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world which is capable of causing a great danger not just in the society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information which may include security of life.”

The former lawmaker said the Tinubu administration has an obligation to engage in evidence-based discussions and data-reliant decision making.

The subject of social media regulation persisted throughout the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with Lai Mohammed, then information minister, repeatedly making the case for the regulation of the social media space in Nigeria.

In June 2021, the Buhari-led federal government banned Twitter (now known as X), two days after the social media company deleted a controversial tweet by the president. The ban was lifted seven months later.

In October 2023, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said it has sent a bill for the regulation of social media to the national assembly.

The regulator is seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC act, CAP L11 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

Speaking while hosting Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, Balarabe Ilelah, NBC director-general, described social media as a “monster”.