The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has endorsed the establishment of a centralised National Crisis Communication Hub (NCCH) to counter the growing threats of fake news, hate speech and artificial intelligence-driven misinformation in Nigeria.
Inuwa gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by its Chairman, Major-General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), following the successful conclusion of the maiden National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication.
The NITDA chief said misinformation often spreads faster than verified facts because of its “novelty factor,” noting that the disruption of traditional media by social platforms has empowered individuals and groups to disseminate harmful content with far-reaching economic and social consequences.
“There is a direct correlation between novelty and virality,” Inuwa said. “Misinformation is often packaged as something new or shocking, which allows it to outpace accurate information. The way forward is to build public trust through credible government action and strong, strategic partnerships.”
Warning that AI-generated deepfakes and automated propaganda would likely intensify before and during the 2027 political season, Inuwa stressed that these developments make the creation of a coordinated national response mechanism more urgent than ever.
On CCC’s 12-point resolution, NITDA outlined workstreams to fast-track implementation of the proposed hub. These include strengthening digital literacy and professional training by leveraging platforms such as Cisco NetAcad to equip journalists, media professionals and security spokespersons with skills in AI-content detection and ethical reporting.
The agency also proposed the expansion of crisis-communication conversations through regional symposiums across Nigeria to deepen grassroots participation and awareness. In addition, NITDA plans engagement with global technology companies to enable faster categorisation and takedown of content that poses risks to national security.
Cybersecurity collaboration also featured prominently, with Inuwa disclosing plans to work closely with the relevant cyber units of critical institutions to establish a multi-layered defence against digital threats.
Speaking, Major-General Olukolade said the call for a National Crisis Communication Hub was the central resolution of the recent symposium held at the National Defence College. He stressed that Nigeria must adopt proactive, predictive and digitally powered tools to manage emerging security and information threats.
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