The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, has earmarked N138,066,187 from the 2024 Appropriation Bill for combating fake news and printing calendars.
The allocation will also cover expenses related to arranging media appearances for ministers and organizing engagements with social media influencers, among other initiatives.
The drive against fake news was initially launched by former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mohammed, in a 2021 interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, highlighted the evolution of fake news in Nigeria, emphasizing the transition from ordinary to “deep” fake news.
He expressed concern about the use of such misinformation to undermine the government and its officials.
Mohammed noted the unfortunate trend of reputable publications and mainstream media joining in spreading deep fake news.
He emphasized that citizens found guilty would face sanctions.
In the 2024 budget details, a specific allocation of N24.5 million is designated for a special enlightenment campaign on government programs and policies.
This includes a testimonial series to assess the impact of government policies on the citizenry and advocacy against various issues such as fake news, hate speech, farmers-herders clashes, banditry, rape, etc.
Further breakdowns of the budget show allocations of N40m for calendar production, N30m for external publicity and engagement with foreign media, and N20.7m for media interactions by ministers, influencers, and analysts on both print and social media.
Moreover, N21.7 million is set aside for the development of social media platforms and networking with other platforms.
Bola Tinubu submitted the 2024 appropriation budget to the National Assembly last week.