The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has restated that President Bola Tinubu is committed to leading the country out of the woods.
He said that various reforms and policy directions are being
introduced in all strata of national life are pointers to the sincerity of the
Federal Government to make life more bearable for the citizens.
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who spoke at the
Abuja Social Media Summit on Wednesday, however called for the support of all
Nigerians for the Federal Government’s policy decisions.
To enable government achieve the desired better Nigeria,
Fagbemi canvassed that all hands must be on deck in efforts to transform the
country into a greater nation devoid of bickering.
The AGF explained that the theme of the summit ‘Harnessing
the Power of Social Media for National Development’, was both apt and timely
because it is an aspect of modernised communication that can make or mar a
country.
According to him, social media platforms are buzzing in
Nigeria because the government has guaranteed the freedom of speech.
“They have also become veritable tools that our teeming
youths are using to showcase their talents and also to make money.
“But we must realise the need for us to at all times
demonstrate responsible citizenship while this government has continued to
provide responsible leadership through many social safety nets it has provided
over time.
“Just as they say that social media neither sleeps nor
slumbers, we must watch our word! Weigh it before you utter it. For, once
uttered, it cannot be retrieved.
“No individual should use his freedom of speech on social
media to infringe upon the rights of another as it is fast becoming the order
of the day.
“We must also be careful of what we say about our country.
Political differences should not make us de-market our country on the
international stage.
“Only unpatriotic citizens or leaders will choose to do so.
Those who speak ill of their country to settle political differences should
never have the opportunity to lead the same country at any stage.
“This government has demonstrated responsible leadership by
allowing freedom of expression and will continue to do so.
“Harnessing the power of social media for national
development involves leveraging social media platforms to promote economic
growth, improve governance, enhance civic engagement, and foster societal
progress.
“Some ways social media can contribute to national
development include e-commerce and digital payments; job creation and remote
work opportunities; entrepreneurship and innovation promotion; tourism
marketing and promotion; and access to international markets
“It also promotes transparency and accountability; citizen
participation and engagement; public service announcements and information
dissemination; feedback mechanisms and complaint resolution.
“Governments all over the world are also using it for
education and awareness campaigns, social inclusion and diversity promotion, as
well as national unity and patriotism promotion to achieve societal progress.
“Examples include India’s Digital India program, South
Korea’s e-Government initiative, Estonia’s digital governance model, Kenya’s
M-Pesa mobile payment system, and Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative.
“Nigeria is not left behind. Here the vibrant National
Orientation Agency (NOA), which is an agency of the federal government, is
dedicated to fostering national unity and development by enlightening and
engaging citizens with accurate and timely information.
“For emphasis, with all the advantages of social media are
the attendant challenges and limitations which include digital divide and
inequality, misinformation and disinformation, cybersecurity threats, and
privacy concerns.
“To overcome these challenges, governments, civil society,
and private sector stakeholders must work together to create an enabling
environment for social media-driven national development.”
He commended the organizers of the summit and challenged the
stakeholders and participants to promote the unity and development of the
country.
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