Senator Ned Nwoko has called for the regulation of social media companies in Nigeria after reposting a viral retraction video and using the moment to strongly push support for his social media regulation bill.
On Friday, the senator reposted a video on X; it involved a young man who made and later withdrew claims connected to him. The senator reacted with a long public caption highlighting the dangers of unregulated social media and urging Nigerians to support his proposed bill at the National Assembly.
In the video, the young man said, “Sir please I was not talking to you, Ned, Regina Husband, I was not talking to you. my name is liar of tiktok, that’s my name I do lies, I go online and lie. I was not referring to Ned Nwoko, I did not even call his name, I did not even put his picture, it was not him I was referring to…I’m very very sorry sir”.
Reacting, Nwoko attached a strong caption to the video, stating, “The accompanying video, trended a couple of days ago. It is testament to the fact that Nigerian social media space has become one of the most unregulated in the world.”
He added, “Laying very serious allegations have become a common trait to attract millions of views without recourse to the damaging effects on the people involved.”
Nwoko also warned that lack of consequences encourages such actions, saying, “Knowing that there could be evasion of consequences because they can easily prey on the emotions of Nigerians encourages this deviant behavior.”
According to him, the incident proves the need for immediate legal action. “This case and many others has now clearly justified the urgent need for the social media bill in the national assembly. You can’t lie to make money and turn around to apologize after criminally defaming and hurting people,” he said.
Calling for stronger responsibility from social media companies, he added, “It is time for social media companies to be mandated to open offices in Nigeria and to take responsibility for what they allow on their platforms.”
He further compared platform responsibility with other sectors, asking, “If landlords are being threatened with punishments for actions of their tenants who are yahoo boys, what stops social media companies from being held responsible for allowing defamatory contents in their platforms.”
Nwoko also questioned why foreign platforms are treated differently, stating, “Why make an exception for foreign companies who don’t pay taxes and ultimately avoid all manner of liabilities because of the absence of regulations.”
Urging public support for his bill, he said, “Please support my bill on the regulation of social media companies which simply seeks to get them to register in Nigeria and open their offices here. This will mean the following:employment for many Nigerians, technology transfer, payment of taxes, litigations will be easier and cheaper instead of suing them in foreign countries, they will also help in tracking bandits and other criminal activities and lastly our records will be domiciled here and not controlled by foreign countries who can use them to destabilize our dear country.”
A day earlier, on Thursday, the senator’s communications team had released an official statement on X addressing what it described as ongoing cyber harassment and defamation against him.
The statement read in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a renewed pattern of online harassment, cyber stalking an ordinated defamatory Videos, and publications targeted at Distinguished Senator Ne Nwoko. These actions appear calculated to create a false narrative of persecution in order to serve ulterior motives.”
It added, “Senator Ned is fully engaged in his legislative, developmental and business responsibilities and maintains no interest whatsoever in online distractions or fabricated drama.”
On legal action, the statement said, “Accordingly, Senator Ned has instructed his lawyer to file a petition with the Inspector General of Police; Director General DSS; and the Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime Unit) to investigate and prosecute those responsible for ongoing cyber harassment and criminal Defamation.”
It also urged foreign governments to rely on verified facts, stating, “Nigerians are encouraged to disregard the false narratives being circulated and allow proper legal processes to proceed. The Senator remains focused on his work and continues to uphold dignity, responsibility and due process.”
The statement was signed by the Communications Team, Office of Distinguished Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.
Ademide Adebayo
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