Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday declared hate speech as an act of terrorism against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that it will no longer be tolerated.
He made this known at the ongoing Monthly National Economic Council (NEC) at the State House, Abuja.
The Meeting, which is chaired by the acting president, is focused on security.
“We’ve drawn a line against Hate Speech, it will not be tolerated; it will be treated as an act of terrorism.”
While highlighting the dangers of hate speech, the acting president said it has a damaging impact on Nigeria’s security.
“Without security, we will struggle to attract the investment, domestic or foreign, needed to create jobs and prosperity for our people.
“When those jobs are hard to find and keep, our people will naturally be more susceptible to the lure of criminal activity.
Citing the antecedent of corruption in the military that enabled insurgent to be powerful, he said it was time to add action to analysis.
“Now is the time to implement our thinking and our talking on Security; to add action to our analysis.This action must be bold, ambitious, urgent and innovative.
“Nigeria’s security challenges are not static, therefore, our thinking and our solutions for them must equally be dynamic.
“Terrorists, insurgents, warmongers, secessionists, peddlers of hate speech use tech. How can we use same tools to stay ahead of them?.”
He, therefore, stated that the Buhari administration can not solve the problem alone, but collective enterprise, requiring all Govt tiers & branches, CSOs, Public.
In attendance are Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN)Walter Onnoghen, State Governors, senior Aso Rock officials, Security Chiefs an others.
