Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has appealed to the Federal Government to place restrictions on the use of social media in order to curb the spread of misinformation. He also called for renewed efforts to engage Nigerian youths in agriculture, warning that idleness and hunger are fueling online anger and the circulation of false information.
Nwifuru made the remarks on Friday in Abakaliki when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, paid him a courtesy visit as part of his tour of federal government projects in the state. The governor expressed concern over the influence of social media, arguing that many young Nigerians use the platforms to share unverified stories that create unnecessary tension and damage reputations.
He stressed that while the government does not intend to control young people, it has a responsibility to protect them from the harmful effects of false reports. According to him, restricting social media use, combined with meaningful engagement in agriculture, would help redirect youths towards productive ventures. “While growing up as a young man, it was always a thing of joy to own a farm but these days, youths hardly engage in agricultural activities,” he said. “It is high time we put serious restrictions especially on unfounded stories. You go to social media and see posts declaring someone dead while the person is hale and hearty, yet the writer faces no sanction. This is not how a country should operate.”
The governor maintained that investing in agriculture would not only create employment opportunities but also reduce the frustrations that drive misinformation online. He insisted that the sector holds untapped potential for food security and wealth creation if properly prioritized.
Turning to the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nwifuru argued that the achievements of several ministries have been underreported, creating the false impression that only the Ministry of Works and the Federal Capital Territory Administration are making progress. He praised the appointment of former Ebonyi governor, David Umahi, as Minister of Works, describing it as historic for the South-East and commending Umahi’s dedication to infrastructure projects. “He left his signature in Ebonyi State which will be hard for anybody to erase, and we are proud and confident that he will leave the same signature in the Federal Ministry of Works,” the governor stated.
Nwifuru also expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s investments in infrastructure and human capital development across the country would secure him re-election in 2027. He pledged the full support of Ebonyi people in that regard.
The governor further commended the President for initiating the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that over 400,000 students have benefitted from the scheme. He explained that Ebonyi State has complemented the federal effort by establishing a postgraduate scholarship programme to support indigenes pursuing master’s and doctorate degrees both locally and abroad. According to him, the state has also improved infrastructure and staffing in its secondary schools to raise educational standards.
In response, Minister Idris said his team was in Ebonyi to engage with the people on the federal government’s policies and programmes aimed at boosting the economy and improving living standards. He confirmed that part of their mission was to inspect ongoing federal projects in the state.
The minister highlighted the NELFUND scheme as a flagship initiative under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that it was designed to give poor and vulnerable students access to higher education without political interference. He said government had approved over ₦86 billion for its smooth implementation. “This is one of such programmes that President Tinubu has designed for all Nigerians to participate; you don’t have to know anybody to be a beneficiary of the programme,” Idris said.
