The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has urged Nigerians to use the opportunities provided by the Information and Communications Technology, ICT, in promoting unity and national integration.
Malami made the call during a town hall meeting put together by the AIT news on hate speech and media regulation bills held in Abuja on Monday.
He opined that Nigeria needs the social media more in the areas of enhancing national unity, patriotism, human capacity development, entrepreneurial skills, and not for tearing the nation apart and disrepute.
In a speech delivered by the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Umar Gwandu, the Minister noted that the emergence and proliferation of ICT tools, which comes with both positive and negatives implications, needs adequate gate-keeping.
Malami decried the rate at which the social media is being dominated by not just vilifying statements, but also heinous internet fraud and
cyber-crimes. He said taht social media is expected to be targeted at good governance, national integration, and enlightenment of the society for the better that distinguishes the mainstream media from the predator miscreants that are bent on creating global information disorder.
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He, however, commended the media contribution to the entrenchment of democratic governance and has been instrumental in the process of ensuring good governance through the fight against corruption, upholding the rule of law, and keeping government accountable in line with Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Minister assured the gathering that the Office of the AGF awaits the recommendations of the town hall meeting in order to key-into factors
brought forward in enhancing the process of making people-oriented legislation in the country.
