The Kaduna State Government has expressed support for stricter regulation of social media platforms as part of efforts to curb misinformation and reduce the escalation of conflicts in the state. This decision follows the release of a new peacebuilding report that identifies youth, digital platforms, and competing narratives as major drivers of insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Commissioner's Statement at Event
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, made this known during the dissemination of findings from the Dilemi Prosper Project, held at the Gusau Institute in Kaduna. The project was implemented under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) initiative, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The one-day event brought together government officials, civil society actors, and development partners to review findings from the eight-month intervention.
Evidence-Based Peacebuilding
Maiyaki said the report reinforced the importance of evidence-based peacebuilding and warned that digital platforms were increasingly becoming catalysts for misinformation and conflict escalation. "We are quite glad with the report that we have seen, which is evidence-based because addressing conflict and building peace requires evidence and not assumptions," he said. "You do not entrench peace, institutionalise peace or build peace without evidence of what has been done."
He further expressed concern over what he described as the growing misuse of social media in fuelling tensions, saying the government would intensify efforts to address misinformation and disinformation. "Our greatest concern remains one of the outcomes of the report, which has shown digital media as one of the enablers of escalation of conflict. My ministry is quite worried about this," Maiyaki said.
Balancing Freedom with Responsibility
The commissioner stressed that while social media remains an important tool for information dissemination, it must not be allowed to become a platform for incitement or falsehoods. "Social media is an important component of information dissemination and media engagement, but it should not be used negatively to spread falsehoods or inflame tensions," he added. Maiyaki also restated the state government's position in support of stronger regulation of digital platforms, arguing that freedom of expression must be balanced with responsibility. "Even in advanced democracies such as the United States, social media platforms are regulated. We cannot, in the name of freedom, allow people to abuse these platforms to instigate conflict or misinform the public," he said.
Government's Commitment to Counter Fake News
He added that the government would continue to provide timely and accurate information while working to counter fake news that could trigger unrest. "There are laws in the country that prohibit the amplification of fake news. Government will not sit idle and watch conflict merchants use these platforms to misinform the public or instigate people against one another," he said.
Ongoing Peacebuilding Initiatives
Maiyaki further highlighted ongoing peacebuilding initiatives by the state government, including the Kaduna Peace Model, which he said was being institutionalised to ensure sustainability. He disclosed that the state had begun training 1,000 forest guards to support security agencies in safeguarding communities across Kaduna. According to him, the state's Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism has also been effective in preventing crises. "In the last three years, we have received close to 70 early warning reports and successfully responded to and resolved more than 65 of them," he said. "That is why in the last three years we have not witnessed any major ethno-religious conflict in Kaduna. We continue to work closely with stakeholders to resolve issues before they escalate."
