Mayaki cautions journalists against fake news

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Country Director, Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Nigeria, Prince John Mayaki, has cautioned journalists against fake news.

Mayaki gave the advice during a media workshop organized by Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja .

He said there is a need for journalists to always do fact checking before publishing any story.

“With the advent of technology people seat down in their various corners and form stories. We saw what happened in EndSars and many other crisis in Nigeria.

Fake news has so much disadvantage and we must caution ourselves against that”.

He called on journalists and other citizens to always spread the right news.

While urging journalists to balance their stories, and be patriotic and objective in their reportage and discard fake news, he said

“Nigeria should have grown beyond fake news. We can also regulate some media houses by having laws”.

He said the cyber law should be enforced in Nigeria, to curb the menace of fake news.

Similarly, The minister of Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said,the freedom of the press in any democracy is important.

He said members of press of are the watchdogs of society and should shun fake news.

“The watchdog has a role as the fourth estate of realm, they have the power to critically checkmate excesses of governments to ensure accountability ”.

Agba represented by the Statistican General of National Bureau of Statistics( NBS), Semu Adeniran stated that:”Think of how Nigerian press will be objective, and there should also be fairness in all editorial matters.

It is good for the press to keep government in check. Journalists like anyone must be responsible in ensuring that there is peace , harmony and stability in country.