Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to censor the contents of social media platforms in Nigeria, citing their abuse and the spread of fake news.
Bago made this statement during his decoration as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council.
The governor stated the need for censorship to checkmate the spread of fake news and promote objective reportage by conventional journalism practitioners.
He joins other politicians, including President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in calling for regulated social media.
“As the fourth estate of the realm, journalists should carry out their duties as watchdogs of the society and ensure the objectivity in their reports.
“I call for the introduction of censorship on social media contents to checkmate the spread of fake news and hate speeches,” he said.
Bago praised journalists for their role in shaping democracy in Nigeria and praised them for their role in shaping democracy in Nigeria.
The NUJ National President, Chris Isiguzo, presented Governor Bago with a certificate, recognizing his exemplary leadership qualities.
Isiguzo explained that the conferment on the governor was in recognition of his transformative strides in the areas of infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, good governance and education among others.