We’ve uncovered 476 online sites set up to fight Buhari - Lai Mohammed

• Minister claims sites found to be producing fake news against Buhari

• Lai Mohammed urge NIPR to play its role to curb fake news

• Fake news almost killed 600 Nigerians recently

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has indicated that it has discovered about 476 online publication sites dedicated to producing fake news on President Muhammadu Buhari and his government daily.

He made this known on Monday, May 17, 2021, in Abuja during his meeting with officials of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

According to him, one of the latest fake stories published by the sites is on the mental status of President Buhari.

“It will amaze you that recently we unveiled almost 476 online publication sites that are dedicated to daily engaging in churning out fake news to fight the government.

“The latest which I found ridiculous is the one that said days ago, that they had information that when Mr President was in the UK the last time, he was advised to step down because he could not even recognise members of his immediate family.

“I begin to wonder how they can go this far, simply because they know that people are gullible and they will make the fake news to go viral,’’ he said.

The minister was of the view that spreading fake news threatens the existence of the country including marriages. He also narrated how recently, fake news almost led to the killing of 600 applicants by scammers.

“A young man sent out letters to 600 people to enlist into Nigerian Army and collected N10,000 from each of them.

“He asked them to report at the Okitipupa Army Barracks in Ondo state on a particular day to collect their letters of appointment.

“At the same time, he alerted the Commandant of the Barrack that Boko Haram insurgents were coming to invade the barrack on the same day,’’ he said.

The minister noted that the NIPR has a role to play in curbing the spread of fake news especially online.

“This is where your body comes in because you have a powerful platform to ensure that the menace of fake news is confronted squarely.

“Regrettably, however, members of this institute have been found wanting, they have most times place pecuniary interest and motives above patriotism and nationalism “You will recall the sad incidence of the P&ID saga.

“It was a member of this institute, a firm of PR consultants that was hired to give impression to the world that Nigeria entered into agreement with P&ID and renege and have to pay about nine billion dollars.

“It took the combine interventions of this ministry and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to go to the UK to change the narrative to prove that the purported contract was a huge scam,’’ he said.