The Northern Governors Forum have publicly declared their expressed support for the ongoing efforts to regulate the social media.
This was disclosed after a meeting of the Forum on Monday, November 1, 2020.
The Forum held that the move is essential in order to check the spread of fake news in Nigeria. Equally important, the Northern Governors made this known in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau; Mr Simon Lalong, after its meeting in Kaduna with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region.
Specifically, the meeting appraised the impact of an uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news. Further, it declared its backing for major control mechanisms and censorship of social media practice in Nigeria. In addition, the Northern Governors voted for police reforms in order to strengthen the institution.
A communique released at the end of the meeting reads in part; “Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr President on this course. The meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police.’’
Also, the Northern Governors hailed traditional rulers for their roles in containing the #End SARS protests in the region; even as they agreed that traditional rulers should be given formal roles in Nigeria’s governance structure.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Monday, November 2, revealed that seven Nigerians who participated in the #EndSARS protest in Egypt have been slated for deportation.
Dabiri-Erewa made this disclosure via her Twitter handle.
1st News had reported that that eight Nigerians were arrested in Cairo, Egypt for protesting against police brutality, extra-judicial killings, and bad governance in their country.
After their arrest, many Nigerians appealed to NIDCOM to intervene and ensure the release of the Nigerians.
While giving an update on Monday, Dabiri-Erewa said seven of those detained are to be deported for “lack of resident permits”.
