Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has called on the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to impose stricter regulations on social media, warning that unchecked misinformation could destabilize the country.
Nwifuru made the appeal on Friday in Abakaliki during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who was in the state to inspect federal projects.
The governor stressed that engaging youths in agriculture would not only redirect their energies into productive ventures but also reduce destructive activities online. He argued that restrictions were necessary to curb the spread of fake news and unfounded reports.
“While growing up as a young man, it was always a thing of joy to own a farm but these days, youths hardly engage in agricultural activities. It is high time we put serious restrictions especially on unfounded stories. You go to social media and see posts declaring someone dead while the person is hale and hearty, yet the writer faces no sanction. This is not how a country should operate,” he said.
Nwifuru clarified that the government was not seeking to gag young people but had a duty to protect them from the dangers of misinformation and false reports circulating online.
On the performance of the Tinubu administration, the governor observed that the work of several ministries was under-reported, giving the impression that only the Ministries of Works and the Federal Capital Territory were active.
He hailed the appointment of Chief David Umahi as the first Igbo Minister of Works since independence, describing him as “vibrant and committed.”
“He left his signature in Ebonyi which will be very hard for anybody to erase and we are proud and confident that he will leave the same signature in the Federal Ministry of Works,” Nwifuru said.
The governor expressed optimism that Tinubu’s strides in infrastructure and human capital development would guarantee him re-election in 2027, pledging Ebonyi’s full support for his administration.
He also commended the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he noted had already attracted over 400,000 student beneficiaries, and highlighted Ebonyi’s postgraduate scholarship scheme for Master’s and Doctoral studies at home and abroad.
According to him, the state has also strengthened infrastructure and staffing in secondary schools to enhance the quality of education.
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