Media experts have advocated for regulation in the social media landscape to avert the disintegration of Nigeria.
In a keynote paper presented by Prof. Adam Ahmed, Director, Directorate of Linkages and Collaboration, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, at the 5th annual lecture of the National Broadcasting Commission in Abuja, the academic said the reliance of the mainstream media on the social media for news, would endanger national unity and cohesion.
Speaking at the 5th annual lecture and the 27th anniversary of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Tuesday in Abuja, Prof. Ahmed posited that the entire broadcast industry must be regulated, adding, “where self-regulation fails, statutory regulation becomes inevitable, otherwise the country might become jungle.”
As a guest speaker on the theme: Contemporary Challenges of the Nigerian State: Need for Constructive Broadcasting, ” Ahmed noted that ethnic jingoists and anarchists explore the unregulated social media landscape to promote “hate speech and fake news.”
“Unfortunately in Nigeria, the media are co-opted into serving majorly for selfish political reasons and seeking politico- material patronage and sometimes, under the influence and tailor-guiding of owners or their cohorts.
“The broadcast media should be committed and self dependable.
They should express social responsibilities that would invariably sustain the growth of nation-state, aid the political terrain, and eliminate friction in human relationships and other sectors of the country,” the renowned academic said.
In the same vein, the acting Chairman of Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Mr Godfrey Ohuabunwa, lamented the menace of fake news on the social media, but urged the government to be more transparent in its affairs by making information available to journalists so as to curb fake news.
In his remarks, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, Chairman, Board of the NBC, advised Nigerians to ponder on the power of the Broadcast media, saying, “which can affect people’s thinking and behaviour for good or evil. Such a medium with monumental influence on society cannot be unregulated.”
While delivering his welcome address, Mr. Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, NBC’s Director-General, underscored the challenges of regulating the nation’s broadcast industry.
“The duty of regulating broadcasting becomes ever more challenging, as the number of stations being licensed to operate increases by the day.
“The NBC has to keep up with the growing number of licenses, amongst who are those who believe they should not be regulated, or who regularly air content that leave much to be desired from the perspective of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Let me assure you that the NBC will continue to serve the very interest of our dear country, Nigeria,” Kawu pledged.
He thanked the pioneer Director-General of the NBC, Dr. Tom Adaba and other key industry players from both public and private organisations of the broadcasting industry for their contributions.
