Wanting The People To Continue Using Social Media, Nigeria Monitors Facebook And Other Platforms To Limit Hate Speech

Nigerian government monitors Facebook for hate speech. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA – The Nigerian government is now monitoring Facebook from Meta Platforms Inc and other social platforms to ensure they comply with demands to limit hate speech on their sites. According to Information Minister Lai Mohammed on Tuesday, May 17, this comes as Nigeria steps up its campaign for the responsible use of social media.

Mohammed's comments came after meeting the Facebook team in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. He said Facebook had done nothing to limit the activities of the Biafra Indigenous Peoples (IPOB) separatist group on their platform despite some complaints.

Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, is on trial on charges that include terrorism and broadcasting lies. A judge will decide on Wednesday, May 18 on whether Kanu should be granted bail.

Mohammed said the separatist group had been classified as a terrorist organization. "Facebook has no justification for handing over its platform to the organization to continue its campaign of hatred and destabilization of the country," he said, as quoted by Reuters.

Nigeria faces separatist agitation that has sparked regional calls for power-sharing between southern and northern Nigeria.

The country also faces insecurity, bandits, kidnappings, a weak currency amid double-digit inflation and slow growth.

Mohammed said the Facebook meeting was held to discuss the increased use of the social media platform by separatists based outside Nigeria to stoke violence and ethnic hatred in the country in English and local languages.

He said the government had no intention of preventing Nigerians from using social media but advocated responsible use.

Nigeria lifted a six-month ban on Twitter in January after the social media company removed a post from Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to punish regional separatists. The telecommunications company then blocked access to users in Nigeria.