The Lagos State Government has announced it will initiate legal proceedings against an X user, identified as Enugu Loudmouth (@Jamessucre2), for sharing a misleading flood video that the user falsely claimed was recorded in Lagos.
Commissioner announces legal action despite deleted post
Tokunbo Wahab, the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, disclosed the decision in separate posts on X on Tuesday. He stated that the user would still face legal consequences even after deleting the post. “Taking down the post after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law,” Wahab wrote.
The commissioner emphasized that while the government respects citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within legal boundaries. “While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognise that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits,” he said.
False information undermines genuine concerns
Wahab argued that the deliberate spread of false information undermines the state’s efforts to address public concerns and erodes confidence in genuine complaints raised by residents. “The deliberate dissemination of false information and misleading narratives not only undermines the efforts of the Lagos State Government but also diminishes the credibility of genuine complaints raised by well-meaning residents,” he added.
The commissioner clarified that the viral flood footage shared by the X user did not originate from Lagos but was recorded in Bangladesh. “The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos,” he wrote.
Specific legal actions undisclosed
Wahab did not specify the exact legal action the state intends to pursue or indicate when proceedings would commence. This development comes barely a week after the Lagos State Government accused some bloggers and social media influencers of circulating misleading images and videos of flooding from other Nigerian states and countries, falsely presenting them as incidents in Lagos.
At that time, Wahab noted that the government had observed a growing pattern of online misinformation aimed at promoting what he described as a “destructive narrative” about flooding in the state. He also alleged that some social media users were deliberately sharing false content to generate clicks and engagement, despite the potential to mislead the public and undermine genuine environmental concerns.
Recent flooding triggers misinformation
The threat of legal action also comes days after heavy rainfall triggered flooding in parts of Lagos, disrupting movement and contributing to electricity outages in some communities. The flooding prompted an outpouring of images and videos on social media, some of which the state government insisted were falsely attributed to Lagos.
The state government has repeatedly urged residents, bloggers, and other social media users to verify the authenticity of information before publishing or sharing it, maintaining that accurate information is critical to effective emergency response and informed public discourse.
