The Kaduna State Government has expressed readiness to collaborate with civil society organisations and development partners to address the spread of misinformation and hate speech, which it identified as major drivers of conflict in the state.
State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated this during an Executive Peace Roundtable organised under the Delimi PROSPER Project.
The project is implemented by Search for Common Ground with support from the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) Programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Maiyaki noted that initiatives engaging young people in peacebuilding are commendable but stressed the need for stronger collaboration with key government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Education, to ensure such programmes achieve their intended objectives without unintentionally creating new tensions.
He explained that media products such as documentaries, podcasts and digital storytelling created by youth participants must be carefully guided to avoid language or narratives that could trigger conflict.
According to him, communication strategies must reflect the unique social dynamics of Kaduna State.
The commissioner warned that careless use of language and the circulation of unverified information, especially on social media, can easily escalate tensions and even lead to violence.
He recalled past situations where hate speech and propaganda spread through media platforms contributed to deadly conflicts.
Maiyaki also shared a personal experience of coming across a social media post advising travellers to avoid Kaduna over an alleged crisis, which later turned out to be false. He said such misinformation spreads rapidly and often creates unnecessary panic among residents.
He further observed that many people, including media practitioners, sometimes fail to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, despite their different implications.
While misinformation may contain elements of truth but is shared inaccurately, disinformation involves deliberately fabricated content intended to mislead or provoke conflict.
The commissioner therefore called for stronger collaboration between government, the media and civil society organisations to tackle the problem.
He emphasised that efforts to counter fake news and hate speech must involve not only young people but also adults, since social media usage cuts across all age groups.
Maiyaki reaffirmed the Kaduna State Government’s willingness to work with partners such as the SPRING programme to develop a broader framework that promotes responsible communication and supports sustainable peace in Kaduna State.
