144 hours after set up facts tracker, by NECA, amidst mass exodus of businesses, FG partners China against fake news

By allcitynews.ng

Against the backdrop of the nationwide hunger, high cost of food, hardship and mass exodus of businesses, the leadership of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has set up dis/misinformation tracker.

Just as Federal Government solicited for collaboration with China in the bid fight against misinformation and disinformation.

It would be recalled that NECA Director General, as part of effort to prune mass exodus of businesses, Organised Private Sector set up misinformation tracker to tackle fake news and misinformation.

Aware of how misinformation and “fake news” have become an increasingly visible global occurrences based on availability of smartphones and social media networks. OPS set up misinformation tracking team.

The stakeholders, in unanimous decision noted that digitalisation coupled with smartphones and social media have further compounded spread of fake news and dis/misinformation.

They seek for compulsory code of ethics or launch legal action against companies breaching the code, and for business setups to have standby mechanism to promptly tackle and nip in the bud any misinformation or fake news that could spring forth from any quarter.

The group identifying Dangote Group, especially the refinery unit as the most affected with misinformation, they commended the media team of Dangote Group for prompt responses to tackling misinformation or fake news that confronted Dangote Group of companies.

The team set by NECA was in conjunction with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) commissioned a consultant, International Press Centre (IPC) and media houses to carry out an assessment on the behaviour of Disinformation in Nigeria through Tracking, Monitoring and Desk Research.

Speaking during the event in Lagos, the Director General, Mr Adewale-smith
Oyerinde, while declaring the commissioning open said, the risk of loosing more businesses at the critical time like this made the OPS set up ways to mitigate against fake and misinformation.

Presenting the report to the coalition group, Ayo Aluko-Olokun, editor of the Nigerian Democratic Report International Free Centre said the findings show that thriving businesses, particularly the manufacturing and banking sectors suffer misinformation the most, with Dangote group being the highest mentioned with 17.8 per cent, followed by Polaris Bank with 11.1 per cent, Opay Nigeria with 11.1 per cent, UBA 6.7 per cent and First Bank 4.4 per cent.

“For services and communication sectors, including Samsung, (6.7%), MTN (4.4%), Azmann Air, Dana Air, and 7up (each at 4.4 %) were also more affected.

Others were Microsoft (2.2%), Arise Tv (2.2%) Air Paece (2.2%), Unity Bank (2.2%), Fidelity Bank, (2.2%), Keystone bank (2.2%) ans power distribution company (2.2%),” the report revealed.

Also, the report showed that false information about businesses trended most on social media, particularly on Facebook with more than one quarter 26.5 per cent of false content track. It says, so far, online media followed with 16.3 percent X 10.2 per cent; WhatsApp has 8.2 per cent and TickTok 4.1 per cent. Other less significant media sources he said, represented 28.6 per cent

The exercise started with set up of facts checking team for five months beginning from May 1, 2024.

Presenting its reports, the team of Fact checkers on Dis/misinformation of Nigerian Businesses in Lagos, presented the first phase of their report on trackery, monitoring and desk research on disinformation in Nigeria.

They reiterating their claim that fake news and misinformation are doing more harm than good to the already fragile society which is battling to tame hardship, they noted that drastic steps should be taken to prevent more harm to individuals and corporate bodies.

And the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris’s announced plan to have joint battle against fake news and dis/misinformation.

The Federal Government move came 144 hours after Organised Private Sector, led by NECA set up dis/misinformation trackering team.

Idris, made this known during the global solicitation results” with the theme: “Written in the Sky; My China Story,” organised by China Media Group (CMG) in Abuja

The Minister, represented by the ministry’s Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Suleiman Haruna, said the initiative represented a significant effort to strengthen the bonds between Nigeria and China through cultural and linguistic exchange while leveraging the modern communication channels available in both nations.

While speaking about the role of media outlets in guiding society, the minister said: “In today’s world, advances in technology have made it possible to deliver credible and timely news to millions of people, even across vast distances.

He reiterated that “While these advancements present us with tremendous opportunities, they also bring challenges especially the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation.

“We must work together to tackle this issue and, ideally, eliminate it. In this spirit of cooperation, Nigeria and China have already made significant strides.”

And in his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yu Dunhai,
said that he was elated celebrating the African narratives collected through the “Written in the Sky: My China Story” event.

He underscored the importance of leveraging the friendship between China and Nigeria for the betterment of both countries and humanity at large.

“I am happy to see many witnesses, participants and inheritors of the China-Africa friendship sending back videos, letters, etc. to CMG AFRICA to share the touching moments of their friendly exchanges with China, which prove the power of media in shaping narratives.

“Let us continue to work together to leverage our strengths and resources for the benefit of both of our countries and peoples, contributing to the vision of a community of shared future for mankind,” he said.

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