Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila of House of Representatives has opined why social media should be regulated in the country.
There have been several attempts to regulate social media, particularly by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, but it has always met brick walls.
The recent uproar between it and Twitter, re-energised the government’s move which critics said is aimed at stifling free speech.
Featuring on Channels Television on Sunday, the top lawmaker said regulating social media has become necessary to preserve national security.
“The social media is the most potent weapon for good and for evil,” Mr Gbajabiamila said during the ‘A chat with Young Nigerians programme’. “While we welcome the good, we must prepare over the evil. You cannot use the idea of free speech to destroy me.
“Most democracies in the world today are making efforts to regulate the social media and the National Assembly has been considering regulating the social media for long. But each time the issue comes up, Nigerians kick against it.
“It is something we need to do because we have a responsibility to protect every single citizen in this country and that is what we must do,” he added.
