IPOB: Lai Mohammed Speaks On FG Banning Facebook

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday noted that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government does not have a plan to ban Facebook in the country.

Mohammed stated this while addressing State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister in a meeting he had with a team from Facebook on Tuesday, asked the social media platform to prevent the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from inciting violence on the platform.

According to Mohammed, people had been killed because of the activities of the group.

When asked if the federal government has a plan to ban Facebook like it did in the case of Twitter, the minister said there is no such plan.

According to him, “I had a very fruitful meeting with Facebook yesterday (Tuesday). At that meeting, we expressed our displeasure that Facebook was becoming a power of choice for those who stay outside Nigeria, in particular, to incite violence, killings, burning of government properties, killing of soldiers and policemen.

“And that they should do more than what they are doing now in looking at the contents, which are unwholesome, which are being used on their platforms.

“Incidentally, the BBC did a documentary on this particular issue and found out that some of them who call themselves social media warriors in England, in France and other places, have in recent times, be using the Facebook platform to incite violence in Nigeria. And we’ve all seen the real-life impact of those warmongering, the young couple who are going to marry, soldiers who were gruesomely murdered.

“Over this weekend in Anambra state policemen were killed, military barracks were attacked. And we did warn Facebook to please do more than what they are doing now. And I must say that their response was quite encouraging. They said you’re going to do much more.”

The Minister when asked whether there was any plan to ban Facebook if the inciting violence continued, he said, “I think I gave you an answer. We had a very robust discussion with Facebook. Facebook saw our point and they said they’re going to do much more than what they are doing. So if they do that, why would we ban them?

“We don’t ban for banning sake. We ban or we only suspend operations if for any reason, lives are threatened and they do not listen. But this is of engagement.”