SEO Riders:
– Information Minister calls for stronger gatekeeping on digital platforms.
– Online publishers urged to boost Nigeria’s credibility and attract investment.
– Fake news labeled a national security risk; sanctions for repeat offenders.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged digital media platforms to take an active role in fighting the proliferation of fake news, emphasizing it threatens national security and public trust. Speaking at the 7th annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Abuja, Idris highlighted the impact of disinformation on democracy, socioeconomic progress, and the nation’s image—stressing that publishers must ensure accuracy, professionalism, and loyalty to patriotic storytelling.
He emphasized that online publishers are gatekeepers of Nigeria’s reputation and crucial in shaping narratives that foster foreign investment and social stability. The Minister reinforced that platforms failing to verify content or allowing malicious misinformation could face sanctions under current and upcoming social media legislation, while responsible media organizations will earn public trust and regulatory goodwill.
