Government of Nigeria wants to regulate social media

The federal government is in a move to set up a council whose duty will be to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria.

The recommendation was made by the National Council on Information, NCI, which suggests, “setting up of a council to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria.”

The recommendation was part of a communiqué issued at the end of Extraordinary Meeting of NCI on Hate Speeches, Fake News and National Unity held in Jos, Plateau state.

The Council, presided over by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, recommended the use of stringent measures in checking conventional media and their programmes.

The Council noted that there was no way vetting and editing posts on Social media could be possible since it has no address.

The Council also suggested that information managers at the state level should open a website that would immediately counter report of any misinformation posted on social media.

It further recommended the killing of whatever is assumed or presumed to be hate speeches or fake news or misinformation by the information managers in various states on social media.

NCI said social media might take over the 2019 elections because Nigerians have come to rely on whatever they find on social media than on conventional media.

Daily Post

President Buhari expected back in Nigeria in two weeks

A Nigerian state governor says he expects President Muhammadu Buhari to return home from the UK within the next two weeks.

Governor Rochas Okorocha was a member of a delegation who met the president in London on Sunday.

Mr Buhari has been receiving treatment in the UK for an unspecified illness.

His absence has led to some anxiety in Nigeria, with some speculating that he might have died. Others have worried he may not be able to return to duty.

The presidency later released images of Mr Buhari, 74, at the meeting with governors from his party. It is the first time he has been pictured in London since leaving Nigeria almost 80 days ago.

'High spirits'

The Imo state governor told the BBC's Newshour programme on Monday: "I met a very hardy man in high spirits, and he's doing quite well. He has not lost his sense of humour, for which is he known for.

"So he is doing quite well and we are very pleased to see him and I think that has gone a long way to reassure Nigerians about the health of their president."

Mr Okorocha earlier said Mr Buhari had laughed off rumours concerning his health when asked about them.

"President Buhari was completely unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He, instead, sent his best wishes to Nigerians."

Mr Buhari would be returning as soon as doctors gave him the green light, Mr Okorocha said.

The president left Nigeria on 7 May - his second trip to the UK for treatment this year.

In his absence, he has given Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo full powers to act as head of state.
Buhari's unhealthy start to 2017

19 January: Leaves for UK on "medical vacation"

5 February: Asks parliament to extend medical leave

10 March: Returns home but does not resume work immediately

26 April: Misses second cabinet meeting and is "working from home"

28 April: Misses Friday prayers

3 May: Misses third consecutive cabinet meeting

5 May: Appears at Friday prayers in Abuja

7 May: Travels to UK for further treatment

6 June: Buhari's wife says he is "recuperating fast"

12 July: Acting head of state says the president will be home "very soon"

BBC

Video - Nigeria government sending troops to Kaduna amid ongoing clashes

Nigeria's government says it is sending more security personnel to southern Kaduna where hundreds have been killed in clashes between Fulani herdsmen and villagers in the past months.The statement follows latest clashes in the village of Kajuru where 37 people were killed in the past week.

Video - Nigeria releases first photograph of president in almost 80 days

Nigeria has released a photograph of President Muhammadu Buhari-the first in almost three months, since he left the country for treatment in the UK. The picture shows Buhari dining in Britain with senior members of his political party. Speculation is rife in Nigeria, over Buhari's medical condition. Buhari is on his second medical leave so far this year. His health has also sparked debate about his ability to finish his current term, to his being able to contest the 2019 election.

Suicide bombers attack IDP camps in Nigeria

At least eight people have been killed after female suicide bombers attacked two camps hosting internally displaced people (IDP) in northeastern Nigeria's Maiduguri, a civilian self-defence group said.

It was the first major attack on a displaced persons camp in the city which is the birthplace of the Boko Haram.

The attack started late Sunday night and left another 15 people wounded, the Civilian-JTF group spokesman Bello Danbatta told The Associated Press.

Boko Haram often targets the city with suicide bombers and has been using female ones increasingly.

Late last year, Nigeria's government declared the group "crushed" but dozens of such attacks have taken place in 2017.

The latest bombings occurred a few days after Nigeria's army chief of staff issued a 40-day deadline for troops to flush out Boko Haram's leader and finish off the group.

Danbatta said one bomber sneaked into the Dalori camp and detonated, and two other attackers exploded on or near the camp's perimeter fence. Another bomber detonated early on Monday.

Thousands of people continue to shelter in camps after being forced from their homes by Boko Haram.

Attacks carried out by the group over the last eight years have killed more than 20,000 people, kidnapped thousands of others, spilled into neighbouring countries and created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

Nigeria is moving closer to famine, with more than five million people expected to face "crisis, emergency and famine conditions" by the end of August as the lean season continues, the Norwegian Refugee Council said in a statement on Monday.

Al Jazeera