The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation will spend N138,066,187 to combat fake news and print calendars.
According to the reports, part of the funds will be allocated for media appearances by ministers and engagement with social media influencers.
This is contained in the details of the 2024 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.
A campaign against fake news was launched by former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Muhammad stated in a 2021 interview that Nigeria had moved from ordinary fake news to “deep” fake news, which he claimed was being used to wage war against the government and its officials.
He had mentioned that initially, the creators of deep fake news were mostly obscure online publications. However, he expressed disappointment that some reputable publications and mainstream media had also started to produce such content. He also stated that individuals found guilty of spreading such news would face sanctions.
In the 2024 budget, N24.5 million has been allocated for a “special enlightenment campaign on the government’s programs and policies, a testimonial series to gauge the impact of government policies on the citizenry.
“Advocacy against fake news, hate speech, farmers-herders clashes, banditry, rape, etc.”
The details also showed that the government would spend N40 million to produce calendars; N30 million was voted for external publicity and engagement with foreign media; and N20.7 million was voted for media interactions by ministers, influencers, and analysts on print and social media.
The government also said it would spend N21.7 million on the development of social media platforms and networking with other platforms.
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