“The police chief has been going around the state to reassure residents. He is joined by military and Intelligence chiefs. Yet, many hold tightly to the myth of some boys coming to trouble us all. Is the fear genuine? No. Are there security challenges? Yes. Should we panic? No. I’ve just seen a video of the police dealing with suspected robbers in Lekki. Scores of suspects are facing trial. Let’s credit our security agents with some level of credibility” This was the outburst of the Lagos Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho
-April 24, 2020, News/interview
LAGOS-As the spread of Coronavirus pandemic continue to create anxiety, uncertainty, including the lockdown order by the Federal government of Nigeria, as a way of curbing the situation, especially in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun state, where the cases of the virus is high.
This has made life more difficult for the citizens of these states, and others currently effected by the COVID-19, which has created security challenges with the recent “One Million Boys gang in Lagos. This has put fears in the minds of Lagosians, who have decided not only to sleep with an eye closed but remain vigilant to their residence. In this interview with the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, via Afrikanwatch Network Whatsapp chat, with Mark C. Orgu, Sunny Atam and Daniel Njienue last night; the Commissioner bears his mind on sundry issues like fake news, the One Million Boys gang and, as well as government’s plans and responses as precipitated by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Excerpts
What are the measures in which the state government has put in place to sanction covid19 fake news purveyors?
There are laws against giving false information. The government is ready to prosecute anybody caught pushing fake news. The governor keeps warning against fake news – that any news not from government channels should be ignored
Honorable Commissioner Sir, the fastest means through which fake news about the covid-19 spread and its possible cure is through Whatsapp, what is the government doing to stem the tide of its rapid spread.
The government can’t control what you consume on your WhatsApp, but the fact remains that anybody using WhatsApp or any other means to spread fake news is doing something illegal and will be prosecuted if found out. Simple. If the news doesn’t carry our official signature, it is fake. We have many channels of checking ‘ phone numbers, websites, social media and all. If you don’t find it there, it is not from us.
Sir, can you please tell us some of the effect and damages covid-19 fake news has caused to most Nigerians.
Panic, wrong decisions based on fake information. Slander, prominent citizens are quoted as writing or saying what they never said, in fact, defamation and blackmail.
Measures against taken by Lagos state government to curb fake news
There are laws against giving false information. The government is ready to prosecute anybody caught pushing fake news. The governor keeps warning against fake news – that any news not from government channels should be ignored.
Let’s talk about security, the one million boys seem to be “the new sheriff in town” what is the government doing to save the lives and properties of Lagosians?
I have seen videos of many youths burning tires and holding machetes and sticks, waiting for one million boys; I’m yet to see videos of the boys. The police say they don’t exist. The police chief has been going around the state to reassure residents. He is joined by military and Intelligence chiefs. Yet, many hold tightly to the myth of some boys coming to trouble us all. Is the fear genuine? No. Are there security challenges? Yes. Should we panic? No. I’ve just seen a video of the police dealing with suspected robbers in Lekki. Scores of suspects are facing trial. Let’s credit our security agents with some level of credibility. Trust. Let’s encourage them by giving genuine information. Let’s see security as the responsibility of all.
Sir, what is the present state of the isolation centres in Lagos?
They are good, comfortable and we’ll manned. I’ve heard testimonies of some former patients.
Sir, at this critical time, do you think Lagos State government can sustain its economic plans and agenda.
We are reordering the budget and trying to turn the adversity into an advantage.
Thank you Sir,
My pleasure
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Mr. Omotosho in one of the interviews on Channels TV
