Lagos govt accuses social media influencers of sharing false flood images

Lagos State authorities are confronting a wave of misinformation, accusing social media influencers and bloggers of circulating fake flood images. The state's Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that these individuals are falsely presenting images from other Nigerian states and countries as scenes from Lagos. Wahab described this practice as an attempt to promote a "destructive narrative" about the state's flooding situation. He noted that the government actively monitors environmental concerns and responds to public complaints. However, he expressed deep concern over influencers deliberately sharing false information to gain online engagement, disregarding the genuine issues faced by residents. "We have watched with concern as some individuals have chosen to politicise the issue of flooding in Lagos by circulating misleading visuals from other states and countries that have experienced severe flooding, all in an attempt to advance a destructive narrative," Wahab said. The commissioner stressed the importance of accurate information for effective problem-solving and urged all parties to verify content before sharing. He specifically called out an X user, @Hhonor_ (Nedu), for allegedly sharing a photograph of flooding in Accra, Ghana, and attributing it to Lagos. "Using your handle to spread misinformation by sharing a photograph of the Accra flood and presenting it as an incident in Lagos is both disingenuous and misleading," Wahab wrote. He reminded the public that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it must be exercised responsibly and within legal boundaries.

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We have watched with concern as some individuals have chosen to politicise the issue of flooding in Lagos by circulating misleading visuals from other states and countries that have experienced severe flooding, all in an attempt to advance a destructive narrative.