N336 million has been set aside to combat hate speech and fake news by the federal ministry of information and culture.
This allocation was a part of the 2021 national budget presented to the national assembly on Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It reads in part, “ERGP9124023 Special enlightenment campaign on government policies and programmes; testimonial series to gauge the impact of government policies on the citizenry, advocacy against fake news, hate speech, farmers-herder clashes, banditry, rape etc. ongoing- N336,015,959.”
This government has been keen on tackling hate speech and perceived fake news despite outcry from right groups that such moves stifle freedom of expression and speech.
A bill that imposes the death penalty on “any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person” is currently before the Senate.
