Failure Of Effective Media Regulation Fueling Spread Of Hate Speech- Expert

By Abdullateef Jos

A Media Professional Umar Sai’du Tudun Wada on Saturday attributed increasing hate speeches in the media to the failure of effective regulation by regulatory agencies and socio-cultural motivation.

Umar Sai’du Tudun Wada who is also the Managing Director of Kano State Radio Corporation, said the failure of regulatory agencies to enforce appropriate sanctions and shortage of manpower to regulate effectively.

He stated this today at a stakeholders forum with Broadcast Media on Hate Speech and Election organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Kano

According to him”We have 18 radio stations in Kano presently but NBC does not have more than 7 personnel use in monitoring the 18 radio and 5 TV stations.

Also, he said this not to talk about government officials interfering in the work of the regulatory agencies.

‘’Similarly, in the north, we have this idea of not challenging issues before the court and mostly saying we leave it to God. With this those who defame others through hate and dangerous speech get away with it without being punished.”

“While the Hausa language with its rich proverbs is also abuse with hate speech and the tolerance of the society for culprits of hate speech getting away with it, “ Said Tudun Wada.

On his part, Coordinator of Hate and Dangerous Speech Project of Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Hamza Ibrahim said the initiative of monitoring hate speech by the organization started in 2014.

According to Hamza” We monitor hate and dangerous speech online and offline so as to correct the trend to prevent its negative implications on the society.

“In some instances, we even react by writing the platform use to make the hate speech such as newspaper Editors, the Columnists and occasionally counter such online”.

“We have developed mechanism and strategy to check hate speech to prevent the violent crisis that can lead to loss of lives and property similar to what happened in Rwanda and Kenya. Hence the project is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.”

Hanza added that the stakeholders in the Broadcast Media meeting on Hate speech and election became necessary as the 2019 election is close by, so the media can sensitize the populace on the need to avoid the menace.