Inciting Content: After Twitter, FG Targets Facebook, Others

Pat Stevens/

The federal government has turned its sight on Facebook just like it did to Twitter last year.

The government claims the social media platform is not doing enough to curtail hate speech and inciting messages, particularly those from the separatist group, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, said on Tuesday the federal government has begun monitoring Facebook and other platforms to ensure they comply with demands to curtail hate speech on their sites.

Mohammed’s comments came after meeting with Facebook’s team Abuja. He said Facebook had done nothing to curtail the activities of IPOB on their platform despite several complaints.

Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader, is standing trial on charges that include terrorism and broadcasting falsehoods.

Mohammed said the separatist group has been classified as a terrorist organisation and that “Facebook has no justification for yielding its platform to the organisation to further its campaign of hate and destabilisation of the country”.

Mohammed said the Facebook meeting was called to discuss the increasing use of the social media platform by separatists based outside Nigeria to instigate violence and ethnic hatred in the country in English and local language.

He said the government has no intention of preventing Nigerians from using social media but is advocating responsible use.

Nigeria lifted a six-months ban on Twitter in January after the social media company removed a post from President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists. Telecoms companies subsequently blocked access to users in Nigeria.

The country is currently dealing with insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, a weak currency amid double-digit inflation and slow growth.

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