Nigeria at 58: President Buhari warns of hate speech on social media

President Muhammadu Buhari has cautioned against the use of social media “to provoke passions and stir tensions.”

He gave his warning his Independence Day anniversary broadcast.

He said, “Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for knowledge and understanding.

“As with other countries, we must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.”

The President sought for collective action to deal with the menace of gate speech festering on the internet.

“We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s world of social media,” he said.

The President also promised to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral body operates independently leading up to the 2019 general elections.

“I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly independent and properly staffed and resourced.

“The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name,” he said.