The Lagos State Government has threatened to take legal action against an X user for allegedly sharing a misleading flood video falsely claiming it was recorded in the state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a series of posts on X on Tuesday, stating that deleting … after it had been debunked would not exempt the user from legal consequences.
According to Wahab, the video shared by the user, identified as “Enugu Loudspeaker” (@Jamessucre2), was not filmed in Lagos but in Bangladesh.
“The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos,” he wrote.
The commissioner stressed that while the government respected the right to freedom of expression, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law.
“While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognize that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits,” he said.
He added that the deliberate spread of false information undermines the government’s efforts and weakens the credibility of legitimate complaints raised by residents.
“Taking down … after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law,” Wahab added.
Following the government’s clarification, the X user acknowledged that the video did not originate from Nigeria and announced that … had been deleted.
“It’s been confirmed to have happened outside the country. … has been taken down,” the user wrote.
Despite the retraction, the Lagos State Government said it would continue with legal proceedings over the dissemination of the false information.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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