NGO advocates legislation to curb hate speech

Some agencies in Plateau state have put the level of hate speech phenomenon in Nigeria to be threatening the survival of the country, arguing that Nigeria would be making a mistake by not formally confronting the hate speech phenomenon head-long.

Speaking at the weekend, during the monthly peace meeting, tagged, Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), hosted by the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA) in partnership with Search For Common Ground, the Director General, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, tasked participants to come up with a blue print aimed at curbing the menace.

The founder, Displaced Women and Children Foundation, Mr. Salis Muhammad Abdulsalam, submitted a report advocating for government legislation in other to checkmate to use of hate speech in the country.

Making his presentation, Mr. Abdulsalam said that It has become imperative to get government policy backed by legislation for effective check of abusive languages making the rounds on social media platforms, aimed at avoiding unnecessary crisis that might engulfed the country if the ugly trend is not curtailed.

He said that some speech people see as normal is harmful and stigmatizing, calling on the State House of Assembly to enact laws that will criminalise the use of derogatory languages.

“We are working to have advocacy with the State House of Assembly and consultations with cultural group; and also the social media platforms, getting them on a round table discussion, letting them know that allowing people to post hate messages on their platform is harmful.

“The conventional media houses like Radio, Television and the print media are also key areas we are pushing to make consultation with, making them understand the grave danger that awaits the country if the hate virus continue to fill media space,” he said.