Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has called on journalists to take a frontline role in combating the growing threat of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, especially within the digital media space.
The governor made the appeal on Tuesday during the 2025 Triennial Delegates’ Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, held at the International Conference Centre, Musa Usman Secretariat, in Maiduguri.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum warned that the unchecked spread of manipulated information and weaponized content poses a serious risk to national security, peaceful coexistence, and sustainable development.
“NUJ, which is the umbrella body of all practicing journalists in the country, has been at the forefront of promoting the ideals of journalism practice in an era of information overload characterized by disinformation and misinformation,” he stated.
Citing the theme of the conference “Beyond the Threats to Journalism: Strengthening Journalists’ Capacity in Promoting Democracy in Nigeria”. Zulum noted the timeliness and relevance of the conversation, particularly in light of the challenges facing journalism in the digital age.
He emphasized the critical role of digital and media literacy in addressing the spread of false information. “The emergence of social media, powered by information and communication technologies, has provided a veritable platform for the expression of views with prejudice, which sometimes undermines national security, peaceful coexistence, and sustainable development,” he said.
Zulum urged the NUJ to take the lead in educating the public and media professionals on navigating and countering digital misinformation. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to press freedom, while cautioning against the dissemination of content that could threaten peace or derail ongoing recovery and development efforts.
The governor also commended journalists in Borno for their objective and professional coverage of the state’s developmental programmes.
He encouraged continued alignment with his administration’s recovery agenda, which focuses on peace and security, resilience building, economic revitalization, and human capital development.