The Lagos State Government has vowed to take legal action against an X user accused of circulating a misleading flood video and falsely claiming it was recorded in Lagos.
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the announcement in a series of posts on X on Tuesday, stating that removing the post after it had been disproved would not exempt the user from liability.
“Taking down the post after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law,” Wahab wrote.
According to the commissioner, the video shared by the user known as “Enugu Loudspeaker (#Jamessucre2)” was not filmed in Lagos.
“The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos,” he said.
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Wahab noted that although the government supports citizens’ right to free expression, such freedoms should be exercised within the bounds of responsibility and the law.
“While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognize that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits,” he said.
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He further stated that “the deliberate dissemination of false information and misleading narratives not only undermines the efforts of the Lagos State Government but also diminishes the credibility of genuine complaints raised by well-meaning residents.”
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After the state government clarified the origin of the footage, the X user acknowledged that the video was not recorded in Nigeria and subsequently deleted the post.
“It’s been confirmed to have happened outside the country. The post has been taken down,” the user wrote.
Despite the admission and removal of the content, the Lagos State Government said it would continue with plans to pursue legal action over the spread of the false information.
