IPC CONDEMNS CALL FOR SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP BY NORTHERN GOVERNORS

Oru Leonard

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria condemns the call for social media censorship by Northern States Governors following a forum with Northern States Emirs and Chiefs on Monday, November 2nd, 2020 at the Council Chamber, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.

The call for social media censorship was highlighted in Section 5 of the resolution of the meeting. It stated that, “The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news. Therefore, calls for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria.”

Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said that social media censorship will violate the rights guaranteed by the constitution, the right of free expression, the right to privacy, the right to know, etc. He further said, it will also violate press freedom.

“It is important to note that, there are existing laws to deal with unwholesome use of the internet, such as the Cyber Crime Act.

Nigerians already rejected the social media bill before the Senate and it would be unacceptable to return it through the backdoor, Mr. Arogundade said.”