Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed speaking on Tuesday night in Lagos at the conference dinner of the first West Africa regional round of the Oxford prize media law moot court competition says the trend of hate speech could become a hydra-headed monster if left unchecked.
He said the prevalence of hate speeches in the country posed a threat to peace and national security.
He said; “Hate speech is becoming increasingly prevalent in all areas of our national endeavour, including religious, social, political and communal life.
“Experts, therefore, alerted that the level, trend and occurrence of hate speech constitute a threat to the peace, unity and security of the country.
“The phenomenon, if left unchecked could grow to become a hydra-headed monster which latently and silently creates a Rwandan-type experience,’’.
He note while admitting that section 39 (1) of the 1999 constitution guarantees freedom of expression that section 45 (1) of the same constitution provides a caveat that the freedom shall not undermine public safety, public order and national peace.
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