Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture, has lamented the devastating effects of fake news, revealing that a false report of a $1.9bn payment into his account almost destroyed his 40-year marriage.
Speaking at a program organized by the Mass Communication Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Mohammed emphasized the need for collective action against fake news, stressing that its gravity can only be understood when one becomes a victim.
He narrated how his wife believed the false report and requested to be made a signatory to his bank account, preparing for the worst. Mohammed explained that the allocation for his ministry in a year was N5bn, making a total of N40bn for the years he spent in government, dismissing the fake report as absurd.
He warned that fake news has destroyed marriages and led to suicides, urging that it must be curbed. On the economic crisis, Mohammed defended the President Bola Tinubu-led government, assuring that Nigerians will soon have a cause to smile.
The program, “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed,” aimed to provide a forum for town and gown to meet and chart a new course for national development. The Head of the Mass Communication Department, Dr. Lanre Akinola, expressed excitement at the engagement, hoping that students drew inspiration from Mohammed’s lecture.
