Nigerian Government Launches $5 Million War Against Bloggers, Online News Media
Jun 27th, 2009 by admin
The Nigerian government has just launched a “$5 million war” against bloggers and online news media such as Sahara Reporters.
Three security sources, who are privy to the plan, revealed that Yar’adua last week approved the covert operation to stop websites and bloggers from influencing public opinion in Nigeria. The president’s Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Kurfi will source the funds for the operations.
On the one hand this is good news as the Nigerian government wakes up to the power of citizens media and that we are watching and reporting on their every step. On the other hand this is very dangerous for bloggers in the country and those outside who may wish to return home whether for a short holiday, work or permanently. We are all very much aware of what happened to two bloggers [Jonathan Elendu and Emeka Asiwe] last year who were met and detained by security officials as they landed at Abuja airport.The plan by the government which sounds like something out of a spy movie [maybe there is much truth in those films] is to recruit ‘700′ Nigerians at home and abroad to ‘blog’ favorably about the President and his government. And like government agents world wide these people will be paid, in this case given “blogger allowances”.
They’re certainly not the first government to do this and they won’t be the last.
H/t Suzanne Ure on Twitter
Heart
Right. Not the first. Just the first to announce it. The others were on this continent, and it’s been going on for some time now.