Youths launches ‘bus campaigns’ against fake news

A group of young Nigerians have called on the Federal Government and major technology companies to take action against the spread of fake news and misinformation. The group who made the call at a peaceful rally Friday in Abuja, also launched the Forward with Facts (#FWDWithFacts) mass media bus campaign to express its displeasure over […]

A group of young Nigerians have called on the Federal Government and major technology companies to take action against the spread of fake news and misinformation.

The group who made the call at a peaceful rally Friday in Abuja, also launched the Forward with Facts (#FWDWithFacts) mass media bus campaign to express its displeasure over the spread of fake news across Nigeria.

A spokesperson of the group, Hannatu Asheloge, said the initiative utilises high-impact visuals on buses in Lagos and Abuja.

She said that the initiative also involves displaying posters on buses in selected six states across the country, apart from provision of free bus rides in selected routes in Abuja and environs.

“The campaign aims to educate the public on the dangers of fake news while calling for greater accountability from Big Tech companies. Fake news is Nigeria’s biggest online threat and has caused “99 per cent harm for online users, especially internet users,” Asheloge, who is also a Senior Analyst at Gatefield said.

She noted the urgency of the campaign, stating that reports on online harms highlight how critical it is for Nigeria to take action against this crisis.

She said, “If we don’t act, young Nigerians, especially young women, will continue to bear the brunt of misinformation and online abuse. This not only harms individuals but also degrades the quality of the internet experience, which is fundamentally unfair.

“That is why it is crucial for us to spread the word and push for accountability. It is time for regulators to step in, set clear rules for Big Tech, and hold them accountable to protect citizens from the dangers of online harms like misinformation.”

She noted that misinformation has continued to shape public opinion and fuel fear, particularly during elections, health crises, and national emergencies.

She also said that Big Tech platforms have continued to allow false information to spread unchecked, even in countries like Nigeria.

She said that social media companies profit from viral misinformation but do little to stop it, leaving users to deal with the consequences.

On his part, a Research and Digital Investigation Manager at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Mr Silas Jonathan, said that technology platforms are now showing even less concern over the spread of misinformation.

He noted that this is dangerous and that false information fuels fear, causes harm, and puts lives at risk.

He said that the ‘Forward with Facts campaign’ advocates for a unified effort to push for better content moderation in Nigeria, particularly to protect vulnerable groups online and curb misinformation, which remains one of the biggest threats to African democracy.

“If technology platforms refuse to act, action must be taken against them,” he said.

Some of the participants at the rally in separate interviews, were unanimous in calling for actions against fake news in the country.