Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, or JAMB, has advocated for “ruthless” penalties against users of social media as a deterrence. Oloyede made this statement precisely three weeks after Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, demanded social media regulation, arguing that if social media use is not controlled, it might become a threat to society. Nigerians were incensed by Gbajabiamila’s call, believing that the strong were merely attempting to eliminate the only person who was criticizing them.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin Oloyede emphasized that in order to act as a deterrence, the security authorities must apply those laws by taking harsh action against platform abusers.
Oloyede added that anyone caught engaging in such behavior, regardless of status, should face the same penalties intended for perpetrators of social media abuse.
He added that “I do not think we need any new laws because we have sufficient laws to deal with those people who abuse social media. The laws are there and I believe it’s lack of implementation that is the problem.
“We should deal ruthlessly with those who use social media to defame institutions and individuals.”
The state’s Deputy Governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said “Social media is about you saying what people want to hear.”
She warned against relying exclusively on information from social media and urged everyone, regardless of age, to have easy access to it.
Sarafa Tunji Ishola, the event chairman, applauded the initiative and counseled Nigerians to take use of social media’s benefits and use it more effectively.
