The Federal Government has uncovered about 476 online publication sites dedicated to the daily churning out of fake news to fight the government.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
He made this known on Monday in Abuja. Lai Mohammed spoke when he received officials of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations on a courtesy visit. The Minister revealed that the latest of the hatchet jobs by the traducers was a fake publication; which according to him, dwelt on President Muhammadu Buhari’s mental status.
“It will amaze you that recently; we unveiled almost 476 online publication sites that are dedicated to daily engaging in churning out fake news to fight the government.
“The latest which I found ridiculous is the one that said days ago, that they had information that when Mr President was in the UK the last time; he was advised to step down because he could not even recognise members of his immediate family.
“I begin to wonder how they can go this far; simply because they know that people are gullible and they will make the fake news to go viral,’’ he said.
Further, he noted that fake news is taking a new dimension and threatening the existence of the country. He said the debilitating effects of the menace was not only on the FG but on every Nigerian. Mohammed noted that many marriages had been wrecked as a result of fake news; particularly through the social media while people had lost their lives and many others committed suicide.
The Minister recalled a recent report where fake news almost led to killing of 600 applicants by scammers.
“A young man sent out letters to 600 people to enlist into Nigerian Army and collected N10,000 from each of them. He asked them to report at the Okitipupa Army Barracks in Ondo state on a particular day to collect their letters of appointment.
“At the same time, he alerted the Commandant of the Barrack that Boko Haram insurgents were coming to invade the barrack on the same day,’’ he said.
Mohammed said his ministry had spearheaded the campaign against fake news years back before the menace got bad. He said the NIPR had a critical role to play in ensuring the fight against fake news.
“This is where your body comes in. You have a powerful platform to ensure that the menace of fake news is confronted squarely. Regrettably, however, members of this institute have been found wanting. They have most times place pecuniary interest and motives above patriotism and nationalism
“You will recall the sad incidence of the P&ID saga.
“It was a member of this institute; a firm of PR consultants that was hired to give impression to the world that Nigeria entered into agreement with P&ID; reneged and have to pay about nine billion dollars.
“It took the combined interventions of this ministry and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation; to go to the UK to change the narrative to prove that the purported contract was a huge scam,’’ he said.
The Minister admonished members of the institute to place nationalism and patriotism over and above pecuniary gains. He also assured NIPR of the support of the ministry in its proposed plan to use its platform to engender stakeholders’ interaction; as well as engagement on national security and cohesion.
Earlier, Malam Mukhtar Sirajo, the National President and Chairman, Governing Council of NIPR; said they were willing to work with the FG to engender peace and unity. He also seized the opportunity to invite the minister to the Annual General Meeting of the Institute. The event is scheduled to hold in Bauchi in May.
