Ebonyi Governor Urges Social Media Restrictions, Pushes Youth into Agriculture

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has appealed to the Federal Government to impose restrictions on the use of social media, arguing that such measures would help curb misinformation and protect national development.

The governor made the call in Abakaliki on Friday when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, paid him a courtesy visit during his inspection of federal projects in the state.

Mr Nwifuru said unchecked content on social platforms fuels half-truths and misinformation, while idleness and hunger push young people into spreading false narratives. He stressed that engaging youths in agriculture would provide them with meaningful opportunities and reduce destructive online behavior.

“While growing up as a young man, it was always a thing of joy to own a farm but these days, youths hardly engage in agricultural activities. It is high time we put serious restrictions especially on unfounded stories. You go to social media and see posts declaring someone dead while the person is hale and hearty, yet the writer faces no sanction. This is not how a country should operate,” Mr Nwifuru said.

The governor added that restrictions were not intended to silence young people, but to shield them from the negative effects of false reports.

On national politics, Mr Nwifuru commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that the performance of several ministries has been underreported, leaving the impression that only the Federal Capital Territory and Works ministries are active. He hailed the appointment of David Umahi as Minister of Works, describing it as the first time since independence that an Igbo man would occupy the position.

“He left his signature in Ebonyi State which will be hard for anybody to erase, and we are proud and confident that he will leave the same signature in the Federal Ministry of Works,” the governor said.

He also praised Tinubu’s reforms in infrastructure and education, pointing to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said has already benefited over 400,000 students, alongside Ebonyi’s own postgraduate scholarship scheme for master’s and doctorate studies.

Expressing confidence in the administration, Mr Nwifuru said Tinubu’s achievements guarantee his re-election in 2027 and pledged the full support of Ebonyi people.

On his part, the Minister of Information said the federal team’s visit was to interact directly with the people of Ebonyi on government policies and projects aimed at improving lives.

Mr Idris explained that the NELFUND programme was designed to support poor and vulnerable students, with more than 400,000 already enrolled and over N86 billion approved for its smooth running.

“This is one of such programmes that President Tinubu has designed for all Nigerians to participate; you don’t have to know anybody to be a beneficiary of the programme,” the minister said.