Nigerians oppose social media bill on social media

NEWSWATCH: Approximately 15 million people in Nigeria take to social media to express their opinions online. Now the government is attempting to pass a bill that will allegedly muzzle social media.

7 Dec 2015

Image via 123RF

The bill to "Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Matters Connected Therewith" is targeted at users of social media and text message apps. The bill passed Nigeria's Senate, and will now be presented to a committee for it to be studied further.

The bill proposes to fine or sentence anyone who propagates false information that could threaten state security, as well as criminalising anyone who uses text messaging apps such as WhatsApp to send abusive messages towards a person, institution or establishment.

Consequences include excessive fines of up to 5 million naira ($25,000) or up to seven years in jail.

Nigerians have since taken to social media using #NoToSocialMediaBill to oppose the law which will inhibit free speech in an independently online country.

Every Nigerian has a right to an opinion and to express it.This useless bill seeks to criminalized opinions in Nigeria #NoToSocialMediaBill
- Tope Adesipo (@tope414) December 7, 2015

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. -Noam Chomsky #NoToSocialMediaBill
- jakesensis (@jakesensis) December 7, 2015

Who is afraid of 140 characters? #NoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/wTetZJdIav
- Ohimai Godwin Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) December 4, 2015

#NoToSocialMediaBill since they cant buy the social media like they bought all media houses,they needed to threaten it existence
- OMIYALE OLADOTUN (@dawncuzo) December 2, 2015