Northern leaders call for social media regulation, safeguard of FCT against destruction

NORTHERN leaders, including the governors from the region, have demanded the regulation of the social media.

They made this demand known in a communique released after the meeting they held yesterday in Kaduna.

This is following the wave #EndSARS protests which swept across the major cities of the country while it lasted.

The Northern leaders said the protests were fueled by the spreading of fake news on social media by people who had ulterior motive to see the country divided and take advantage of the engendered crisis to execute their separatist objective.

Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong who read the communique issued after the meeting, disclosed that the meeting noted the devastating effect of uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and called for major control mechanism and censorship of the media platforms.

He also said the meeting emphasised the need to closely watch the Federal Capital Territory to “guard against unwarranted and destructive protests to safeguard critical assets of the nation.

“The meeting resolved that there is the need for regular meetings of this nature,” and called for further engagements with religious leaders, business community, youth leaders and other stakeholders.

According to him, the meeting approved the setting up of two major committees: the committee on roles of traditional rulers membership and the committee on the youth and civil society. 

Lalong said the meeting called for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the North, especially Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy and poverty.

Lalong said the meeting appreciated President Buhari and his cabinet for “their quick intervention in meeting the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.”

He also said, “the forum also appreciated the role of the youth for their response to the #EndSARS, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies.”