Thread by @FMINONigeria

HONORABLE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & CULTURE, ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED’S RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON #FAKENEWS DURING THE #PTFCOVID19 PRESS BRIEFING

You asked me what the Ministry of Information and Culture is doing about fake news.

I must tell you that I am surprised at the question. If by now, you are still asking me what the government is doing about #fakenews, then we are indeed in trouble.

As far back as 2017, we've been calling national attention to the issue of fake news. That culminated in the launch of the national campaign against fake news in July 2018.

As far back as 2017, we've been calling national attention to the issue of fake news. That culminated in the launch of the #NationalCampaignAgainstFakeNews in July 2018.

Of course, that includes massive advocacy campaign that took my team to newspaper houses and TV stations across the country.

When we announced a plan to set up a committee to deliberate on how to tackle fake news, even the Nigerian Guild of Editors refused to send a representative.

Journalists have a huge responsibility to tackle #fakenews, more than any other group. This is because fake news hurts them more than anyone.

After all, if the media loses credibility because of #fakenews, media practitioners will bear the brunt. If people stop believing in the media because of fake news, people will simply turn away from them.

Therefore, I will throw the question back to you. What are journalists doing to tackle the menace of #fakenews?

Short of sensitization and advocacy, the only option open to the Government is coercion, and we have said repeatedly that we don't what to go that route. We prefer sensitization and advocacy. But it's clear now that that it is not working.

So,let's try asking you, the journalists to take responsibility by coming together to tackle the menace of fake news.There is the NUJ,there is the Guild of Editors,there is the Newsapapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria,and there is the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria.

Let all these bodies come together and tackle the issue of fake news.

On our part, we will continue to evolve ways to tackle this canker worm. #FakeNews is a clear and present danger to all of us. We must all be concerned enough to take action against it.