Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma says social media is “being used to cause trouble in the country” and must therefore be regulated.
He stated this Thursday while hosting the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
“I am strongly advocating that social media should be regulated in Nigeria.
“Opposition party incited hoodlums to cause trouble in Imo, because the real protesters went off the street after my address and assurances to them,” Uzodinma said.
Reacting, the IGP said that social media was the channel used to mobilise for the #EndSARS protests across Nigeria.
He said a repeat of the mayhem experienced during the protests would not be beneficial to the nation.
“I can tell you that our men acted professionally during the protest, they had their guns, they were being killed, yet they respected human dignity.
“I came specifically to visit vandalised property and to see the level of damage done to police facilities in Imo,’’ Adamu added.
Many Nigerians, especially youths, have kicked against the Federal Government’s plan to regulate social media.
They described it as a plot to curb their rights to expression.
Despite this opposition, a bill is currently before the National Assembly and has passed second reading at the Senate.
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