The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has endorsed the establishment of a centralised National Crisis Communication Hub (NCCH) to combat the growing threat of fake news, hate speech, and artificial intelligence–driven misinformation in Nigeria.
Inuwa gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by its Chairman, Major-General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), following the successful conclusion of the maiden National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication.
The NITDA boss noted that misinformation often spreads faster than verified facts due to its “novelty factor,” explaining that the disruption of traditional media by social media platforms has empowered individuals and groups to disseminate harmful content with serious social and economic consequences.
“There is a direct correlation between novelty and virality,” Inuwa said. “Misinformation is often packaged as something shocking or new, allowing it to outpace accurate information. The solution lies in building public trust through credible government actions and strong strategic partnerships.”
He warned that AI-generated deepfakes and automated propaganda are likely to intensify ahead of the 2027 political season, making the creation of a coordinated national response mechanism increasingly urgent.
On the CCC’s 12-point resolution, NITDA outlined several workstreams to accelerate the implementation of the proposed hub. These include strengthening digital literacy and professional training through platforms such as Cisco NetAcad, to equip journalists, media practitioners, and security spokespersons with skills in AI-content detection and ethical reporting.
The agency also plans to expand crisis communication engagements through regional symposiums across the country to deepen grassroots participation. Inuwa added that NITDA would engage global technology companies to enable faster categorisation and takedown of content that poses risks to national security.
Cybersecurity collaboration featured prominently, with Inuwa disclosing plans to work closely with cyber units of critical institutions to establish a multi-layered defence against digital threats.
Speaking earlier, Major-General Olukolade said the call for a National Crisis Communication Hub was the central resolution of the symposium held at the National Defence College. He stressed the need for Nigeria to adopt proactive, predictive, and digitally powered tools to manage emerging security and information threats.
According to him, the proposed hub would function as an independent, multi-stakeholder platform to monitor and counter harmful content during sensitive periods such as elections, while safeguarding democratic values and freedom of expression.
Olukolade also advocated the development of specialised mobile applications to enable citizens to report crimes and emergencies in real time, effectively transforming digital platforms into tools for public safety and early warning.
Both NITDA and the CCC agreed on the importance of inclusivity, emphasising that digital innovation must amplify the voices of persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups, ensuring crisis information and emergency alerts are accessible to all.
