Fake News Fuelled #EndSARS Protests — Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said the 2020 #EndSARS protests were intensified not by communication failures from government, but by the rapid spread of misinformation and unverified content.

Speaking at a forum hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science, Mohammed argued that while the protests began as a legitimate response to concerns over police brutality, the situation escalated due to what he described as “fake news and disinformation in real time.”

According to him, the crisis evolved beyond its original demands as misleading narratives gained traction across both traditional and digital media platforms. He suggested that these narratives amplified tensions, shaped public perception, and complicated efforts to manage the situation.

“The problem was not the usual communication gap between government and citizens,” he said. “It was the scale and speed at which misinformation spread, combined with the breakdown of order in some areas.”

Mohammed also criticised sections of the international media, alleging that some outlets relied on unverified or manipulated content in their coverage of the protests, thereby influencing global opinion in ways he believes did not fully reflect realities on the ground.

Communication, crisis, and control

The former minister used the discussion to highlight broader concerns about information management in the digital age, warning that the ability of false narratives to spread quickly poses a growing challenge for governments worldwide.

He called for stronger systems to verify information, as well as greater responsibility from media organisations and digital platforms. In his view, improving public resilience against misinformation is just as important as strengthening official communication channels.

Beyond the protests, Mohammed reflected on the government’s approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing it as an example of adaptive communication under pressure. With no clear global playbook at the time, he said authorities developed a strategy built on frequent updates, coordinated messaging, and engagement across multiple platforms.

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He noted that information campaigns were translated into local languages and distributed widely to ensure accessibility, an effort he believes helped maintain public awareness during a period of uncertainty.

The event formed part of his speaking engagements in the United Kingdom, where he has been discussing themes of governance, media, and public communication, drawing from his experience in office.

His comments are likely to reignite debate around the role of information, and misinformation, during the #EndSARS protests, a defining moment in Nigeria’s recent history that continues to shape conversations about accountability, media influence, and the relationship between citizens and the state.