Ogemdi Ogemdi
The Government of Anambra State has joined other interested parties in calling for the regulation of social media as part of measures of ending insecurity in the country.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu stated this during the maiden edition of Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) held in Awka, Anambra State.
While maintaining that although it is not necessary for a full regularization and censorship of the social media, he was of the view that prosecution of fake news peddlers in the various platform would act as a deterrent to the practice and enthrone sanity in the media space.
According to him, the purveyors of fake news in social media can now be detected through the aid of technology. They should be brought before the law and made to face the court for defamation, slander, character assassination and if found guilty, be jailed for such actions.
Nwosu who spoke on the topic "The Role of the Media In Stemming Tide of Insecurity in Nigeria," reiterated that'll time has come for governments to be proactive with investigations of the media.
He decried that some investigative reports from reputable media firms in the country are often ignored by governments inspite of the security problems of the country.
Mr Nwosu noted that some platforms churn out investigations that can be very useful in unearthing true identities of kidnappers, bandits and other miscreants causing crimes and public unrest in the society.
He observed that governments stand to benefit a lot by listening to media reportage especially investigations and following those reports with regards to the existing insecurity.
Also, former Chief Judge of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2023 election, Justice Peter Umeadi urged the security apparatuses to trace various sources of fake news that are causing harm to the environment.
He also urged the media to work in synergy with other critical stakeholders in fighting the scourge of insecurity in Nigeria, pointing out that abiding by the ethics of the practice is keg to stemming the tide of insecurity.
Responding, the State Chairman of ACPIN, Mrs Ify Obi said the association is committed to advancing the study and practice of communicationexcellence by promoting and facilitating pursuit of in academic research and professional practice in Nigeria.
She maintained that ACPIN is the coming together of town and gown, which no other association in the country currently can do. ###