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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, has backed calls for stronger regulation of social media, warning that the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms posed a serious threat to peace and social cohesion.
Maiyaki spoke in Kaduna during the close-out and learning event of the Delimi PROSPER Project after a report presented at the event identified digital media as one of the major enablers of conflict escalation in Northern Nigeria.
The commissioner said the findings were particularly significant because they were evidence-based and highlighted emerging threats to peacebuilding efforts.
“Our great concern has remained one of the outcomes of the report, which has shown digital media as one of the enablers of escalation of conflict,” he said.
According to him, while social media remains an important platform for information dissemination and citizen engagement, it should not be used to spread false information capable of inciting violence or deepening divisions within communities.
He said the Kaduna State Government would continue to work with media practitioners, young people and other stakeholders to address the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation.
“We must ensure that information disseminated to the public is not fake, does not misinform people and does not escalate conflict,” he said.
Maiyaki warned that government would not stand by while what he described as “conflict merchants” exploit digital platforms to mislead the public and instigate hostility among citizens.
Responding to questions on whether social media should be regulated, the commissioner said regulation was not unusual in democratic societies.
“Even in places where democracy and development thrive, such as America, social media is regulated,” he said.
The commissioner spoke against the backdrop of findings from the Delimi PROSPER Project, implemented by Engaging Borders SRD with support from the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme (Spring) and funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Executive Director of Engaging Borders SRD, Richard Ali, said the project found that the digital space has become a critical arena where conflicts are shaped and amplified.
“The digital space is no longer just something that you consider. It is the actual terrain itself,” Ali said.
He added that young people remain central to both conflict dynamics and peacebuilding efforts, making their participation essential in addressing insecurity across Northern Nigeria.
Ali noted that the project’s recommendations include stronger collaboration among governments, development partners and civil society organisations to counter harmful narratives and promote peaceful coexistence.
The Delimi PROSPER Project, which ran from August 2025 to March 2026 in Kaduna and Plateau states, focused on youth-led peacebuilding, climate resilience and digital advocacy.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that while digital platforms have expanded opportunities for civic engagement and information sharing, deliberate efforts are needed to curb the spread of harmful content capable of fueling violence and undermining peacebuilding initiatives.
