FAKE NEWS ALERT: FG is Not giving Nigerians with BVN N30,000-Femi Adeshina

FAKE NEWS ALERT: FG is NOT giving Nigerians with BVN N30,000

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, says the report that Nigerians with bank verification number (BVN) will be given N30,000 as relief fund is false.

The report, which went viral on Friday, said Adesina issued a statement to that effect.

The said amount was to help Nigerians “stock up their home during the stay-at-home order by the government”.

As a way of reducing the spread of COVID-19, both federal and state governments placed restrictions on public gathering.

In a tweet on Saturday, Adesina asked Nigerians to disregard the information.

“Fake news peddlers have concocted a statement, purportedly issued by me, saying FG will pay N30,000 to each Nigerian with BVN, to help them stock up before an impending national lockdown. Not me. The so-called statement is hereby disclaimed,” he tweeted.

The pandemic has led to a lockdown in some countries where relief materials are provided for citizens.

Taking on Adesina’s tweet, some Nigerians asked if the government has any plan to help its citizens at this time. 

Below are some responses to Adesina’s tweet:

The Cable

Social Media Bill Passes Second Reading In The Senate

AgegePulse Magazine

The Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill also known as the Social Media Bill has passed second reading in the Senate.

The bill on Wednesday passed second reading with support by majority of Senators.

This is despite opposition to the proposed legislation by Nigerian citizens who are of the opinion that the bill seeks to fight free speech.

During the debate, only one lawmaker, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani opposed the bill. He argued that there is legislation in the country namely the Cyber Crimes Act which addresses internet falsehood.

The Senate, however directed its committee on judiciary to work on the bill and return in four weeks.

The bill was introduced to the Senate on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

According to the sponsor of the bill, Mohammed Sani Musa, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Niger East Senatorial District, it will regulate the use of social media in Nigeria and curb fake news on the internet.

A similar anti-social media bill introduced by the previous eighth Senate, sparked outrage across the country, and was later withdrawn.

The bill, if passed into law, seeks to prevent falsehoods and manipulations and counter the effects of such communications and transmission to sanction offenders with a view of encouraging and enhancing transparency by social media platforms using the internet correspondences.

The Hawk News