Amnesty International has disclosed that critics of President Bola Tinubu risk a three-year jail term even as it criticizes a fresh push for social media regulation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
While talking about the implications of social media regulations in a thread of recent tweets, Amnesty International said: “The social media regulation law keenly pushed by Nigerian politicians is set to be subject to vague and broad interpretations and will impose incredibly harsh punishments simply for criticizing the authorities.
“Social media users will be punished for freely expressing their opinions. Govt. can arbitrarily shut down the internet and limit access to social media. Criticizing the government will be punishable with penalties of up to three years in prison.”
Recall that the human rights organization identified Sada Soli, an APC lawmaker from Katsina State, as the person pushing for the reintroduction of the law.
This came shortly after President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, called for social media regulation, labeling it as a “societal menace, amid public outrage triggered by economic hardship and insecurity.
Gbajabiamila said: “Social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated. As many people do not understand that once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world, which is capable of causing a great danger not just in society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information which may include security of life.”
Gbajabiamila was criticized after the comment with some citizens asking the government to fight insecurity, poverty and hunger worsened by the government’s policies
