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Senator Ned Nwoko has strongly condemned the circulation of false information on social media, citing a recent incident in which he was wrongly accused of plotting to kill his estranged wife, Regina Daniels.
Addressing the issue on X, the senator highlighted the dangers of Nigeria’s largely unregulated online space, stressing that the trend of spreading baseless claims for clicks and views can cause serious harm to individuals.
“The accompanying video trended a couple of days ago. It is a testament to the fact that the Nigerian social media space has become one of the most unregulated in the world. Laying very serious allegations have become a common trait to attract millions of views without recourse to the damaging effects on the people involved,” Nwoko said.
He argued that the ability to evade accountability encourages deviant behaviour on social platforms, noting that the incident involving him is just one of many that underscore the urgent need for the social media bill currently before the National Assembly.
“Knowing that there could be evasion of consequences because they can easily prey on the emotions of Nigerians encourages this deviant behaviour. This case and many others have now clearly justified the urgent need for the social media bill in the national assembly,” he added.
The senator called for social media companies to be held accountable for the content shared on their platforms, drawing a comparison with other industries that are regulated in Nigeria.
“You can’t lie to make money and turn around to apologize after criminally defaming and hurting people. It is time for social media companies to be mandated to open offices in Nigeria and to take responsibility for what they allow on their platforms. If landlords are being threatened with punishments for actions of their tenants who are yahoo boys, what stops social media companies from being held responsible for allowing defamatory content on their platforms?” Nwoko questioned.
He also stressed that Nigerian media outlets comply with defamation laws, and foreign social media firms should not be exempt from similar accountability.
“All our local media houses comply with laws concerning defamation. Why make an exception for foreign companies that don’t pay taxes and ultimately avoid all manner of liabilities because of the absence of regulations? We must effectively be able to apply regulations, or there is no end to this. It’s Senator Ned today, who knows who is next?” he said.
Urging Nigerians to back the bill, Nwoko explained that the regulation of social media companies would bring multiple benefits to the country, including employment and technology transfer.
“Please support my bill on the regulation of social media companies, which simply seeks to get them to register in Nigeria and open their offices here,” he stated.
He added that the move would simplify litigation, enhance national security, and ensure that Nigerian records remain under local control.
“This will mean the following: employment for many Nigerians, technology transfer, payment of taxes, litigations will be easier and cheaper instead of suing them in foreign countries, they will also help in tracking bandits and other criminal activities and lastly our records will be domiciled here and not controlled by foreign countries who can use them to destabilize our dear country,” Nwoko concluded.
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