Lagos to sue social media user over false flood video

Lagos State is pursuing legal action against a social media user for disseminating a false flood video, which was wrongly attributed to the Nigerian metropolis. Tokunbo Wahab, the state's Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, announced the government's intention on X, formerly Twitter.

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Taking down the post after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law.

Wahab emphasized that the user, identified as "Enugu Loudspeaker (#Jamessucre2)," would still face legal consequences despite removing the misleading post. He clarified that the video originated from Bangladesh, not Lagos, and urged users to verify content before sharing to prevent public misinformation.

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The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos.

While acknowledging the right to freedom of expression, Wahab stressed the importance of responsible use, stating that deliberate falsehoods undermine government efforts and erode trust in genuine complaints. The X user subsequently admitted the video's foreign origin and deleted the post. However, the Lagos State Government remains committed to pursuing legal action.

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While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognize that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits.