The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday moved to halt the spread of dangerous misinformation, directing the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigate the authors and promoters of false reports claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio collapsed and was rushed to a hospital in London.
The resolution was reached during plenary after Senator Titus Zam raised a point of order, condemning the viral reports circulating across social and online media platforms. He described the claims as reckless, unacceptable and capable of undermining public confidence, urging security agencies to track down and prosecute those behind the fabrication.
“This kind of falsehood must not be allowed to thrive. Those responsible should be identified and punished to serve as a deterrent,” Zam insisted.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Akpabio decried the growing menace of unregulated media content, lamenting the ease with which false information about public officials is generated and amplified. He likened the trend on some platforms to a cycle of “garbage in, garbage out,” warning that unchecked misinformation poses a serious threat to governance and national stability.
The Senate’s action comes in the wake of widespread online rumours alleging that Akpabio had suffered a health emergency abroad—claims his aides swiftly dismissed as outright fake news.
By mandating the NSA to step in, the Senate signalled a tougher stance against deliberate disinformation, particularly reports capable of inciting panic or damaging the credibility of key state institutions.
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