Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has issued a warning to President Muhammadu Buhari government’s plans to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, had said the federal government is working on regulating social media.
Mohammed said Buhari has approved measures to rid the airwaves of fake news and hate speech.
He disclosed that the recommendations approved by the president include the independence of the broadcast regulators from all forms of interference, an upward review of fines for media houses from N500,000 to N5,000,000 for breaches relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency.
But, SERAP, reacting warned Buhari’s government to immediately halt its plan to regulate media.
The group described the plan as an assault on fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
In a post on its official Twitter page, SERAP wrote: “Nigerian authorities should immediately end its plan to regulate the use of the social media and criminalize freedom of expression.
“ This is a blatant assault on fundamental rights of Nigerians to hold their ‘leaders’ to account and participate in their own government without fear.”
