Why Social media must be regulated – Gbajabiamila

President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated. Gbajabiamila said this while representing Tinubu at the public presentation of a book, “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole” written by a former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in Lagos This is according to a Thursday statement by Tunde Alao, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Media), Office of the Lagos State Deputy Governor. “The social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated. As many people do not understand that once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world which is capable of causing a great danger not just in the society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information which may include security of life,” the statement quoted Gbajabiamila as saying. Governor Sanwo-Olu was also represented at the event by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat. The statement noted that Tinubu maintained that his administration had an obligation to engage in evidence-based discussion and data-reliant decision-making, hence, the need for accurate data that would be used for better policy formulation and execution. “As citizens become more interested in governance, it is the government’s obligation to ensure that engagement with citizens springs with shared agreement on what the truth is, what is real and what is not,” Gbajabiamila said. The president commended the author for putting in book form his thoughts and experience garnered both as a governor and member of the federal executive council. Speaking at the event, Hamzat noted that accurate data would help in finding lasting solutions to myriads of challenges facing the nation adding that “for a developing country like us, part of the problem we have is that we don’t have data, which is very crucial for policy formulation for national development.” While stressing the importance of data, he noted that “deterministic data is essential even in our daily lives, even on issues such as building – buildings require correct data to know the threats.” In his remarks, the book author, Fashola, disclosed that the book was written based on his 21 years of experience as a public office holder, highlighting different public issues. “My joy is that the conversation has just started, and by and large, we will get good and positive results in our quests for national development”, Fashola was quoted as saying. In October 2023, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, “to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill.” SERAP noted that the passage of the bill “would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy,” and urged Tinubu’s administration to stop its efforts to compel technological firms like Google and YouTube to restrict such “fundamental human rights.”

Swearing-in ceremony for ministers holds at Presidential Villa

The formal induction of the 45 confirmed ministers-designate took place at the Conference Centre of the State House, Abuja. This event comes less than a week after President Bola Tinubu unveiled the assigned roles for these appointees. Notable among the designations are former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, who takes charge of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Festus Keyamo, who assumes the role of overseeing the Ministry of Aviation. Other key ministers include Wale Edun as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola as the Minister of Transportation, David Umahi as the Minister of Works, and Betta Edu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Here is the comprehensive list of the appointed ministers: Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy – Bosun Tijani Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management – Ishak Salaco Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Wale Edun Minister of Marine and Blue Economy – Bunmi Tunji Minister of Power – Adedayo Adelabu Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare – Tunisia Alausa Minister of Solid Minerals Development – Dele Alake Minister of Tourism – Lola Ade-John Minister of Transportation – Adegboyega Oyetola Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment – Doris Anite Minister of Innovation Science and Technology – Uche Nnaji Minister of State, Labour and Employment – Nkiruka Onyejeocha Minister of Women Affairs – Uju Kennedy Minister of Works – David Umahi Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development – Festus Keyamo Minister of Youth – Abubakar Momoh Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation – Betta Edu Minister of State, Gas Resources – Ekperikpe Ekpo Minister of State, Petroleum Resources – Heineken Lokpobiri Minister of Sports Development – John Enoh Minister of Federal Capital Territory – Nyesom Wike Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy – Hannatu Musawa Minister of Defence – Mohammed Badaru Minister of State Defence – Bello Matawalle Minister of State Education – Yusuf T. Sunumu Minister of Housing and Urban Development – Ahmed M. Dangiwa Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development – Abdullah T. Gwarzo Minister of Budget and Economic Planning – Atiku Bagudu Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory – Mairiga Mahmud Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation – Bello M. Goronyo Minister of Agriculture and Food Security – Abubakar Kyar Minister of Education – Tahir Maman Minister of Interior – Sa’Idu A. Alkali Minister of Foreign Affairs – Yusuf M. Tuggar Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare – Ali Pate Minister of Police Affairs – Ibrahim Geidam Minister of State, Steel Development – U. Maigari Ahmadu Minister of Steel Development – Shuaibu A. Audu Minister of Information and National Orientation – Muhammed Idris Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – Lateef Fagbemi Minister of Labour and Employment – Simon B. Lalong Minister of State, Police Affairs – Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs – Zephaniah Jisalo Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation – Joseph Utsev Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security – Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi Minister of Environment and Ecological Management – (Kaduna)