By Bello Gideon (SIWES student, AAPOLY)
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Direction plans to spend N138,066,187 to address the issue of fake news and counterfeit calendars.
Part of the funds will support external media engagement for ministers and collaborations with social media influencers. This allocation is detailed in the 2024 budget currently under review by the National Assembly.
Initiated by former Minister Lai Mohammed during President Buhari’s administration, the advocacy against fake news aims to counter the growing threat of “deep” fake news targeting the government and its officials.
The budget also earmarks N40 million for calendar production, N30 million for foreign media engagement, N20.7 million for media interactions by ministers and influencers, and N21.7 million for the development of social media platforms.
President Bola Tinubu presented the 2024 appropriation budget to the National Assembly last week.
