Tinubu: Social media must be regulated, it has become a menace

President Bola Tinubu says said that social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.

The president said this in Lagos on Thursday at the public presentation  of a book, “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole” written by the a Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

Represented by Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff, President Tinubu lamented the growing trend of fake news across the globe, especially in Nigeria.

“Who should be blamed for spreading fake reports through the social media? Is it the purveyor of the fake story or the reader?

“While we need to engage in public discourse, we need to, however, ensure that we base our discussions on facts and empirical data.

“Unfortunately, many uninformed people have been relying heavily on social media to engage the public.

“And in most cases, that information has been false. This was why under my leadership as the Speaker of the 9th Assembly, we agreed to get more regulations for the sector.

“Though the work had reached an advanced stage, unfortunately, the social media fought that move to a standstill.

“The 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,” he said, according to Punch.

Tinubu maintained that his administration had an obligation to engage in evidence-based discussion and data-reliant decision-making, hence, the need for accurate data that would be used for better policy formulation and execution.

“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,” he said.

The president commended the author for putting in book form his thoughts and experience garnered both as a governor and member of the federal executive council.

In his remarks, the book author, Fashola, disclosed that the book was written based on his 21 years of experience as a public office holder, highlighting different public issues.

“My joy is that the conversation has just started, and by and large, we will get good and positive results in our quests for national development”, Fashola said.