The Lagos State Government has announced plans to institute legal action against an X user accused of sharing a misleading flood video falsely claimed to have been recorded in Lagos.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a series of posts on X, stating that deleting the post after it had been debunked would not exempt the user from legal consequences.
According to Wahab, investigations confirmed that the viral flood footage originated from Bangladesh, not Lagos State, contrary to the claims made in the social media post.
He urged users to verify the authenticity and source of information before sharing it, warning that the spread of false content misleads the public and undermines informed discussions on issues affecting the state.
The commissioner stressed that while the government respects citizens’ right to freedom of expression, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law.
He added that the deliberate circulation of false information not only damages the state’s reputation but also weakens the credibility of legitimate concerns raised by residents.
Following the government’s clarification, the X user, identified as “Enugu Loudspeaker” (@Jamessucre2), acknowledged that the video was not recorded in Nigeria and deleted the post.
Despite the retraction, the Lagos State Government maintained that it would proceed with legal action, insisting that those who knowingly spread false information must be held accountable in accordance with the law.
