The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) has backed the Stance of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, following his warning on the devastating impact of misinformation in the country.

The development was made known in a statement jointly signed by BAVCCA’s National President and Secretary, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere and Tabuko Kennedy on Thursday in Abuja.

Ikechukwu, while quoting IGP Kayode Egbetokun verbatim, “Misinformation has become a silent bomb; it does not destroy buildings; it destroys trust. A single false post can cause chaos faster than a bullet can travel.” – stressed that the Police Chief’s comment is a clarion call to every Nigerian, creator, sharer, or citizen.

He further warned that the spread of falsehoods is not a bloggers-only problem; it is a national security threat that demands collective action.

BAVCCA also disclosed plans to formally submit the Digital Content Practitioners (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2025, to the National Assembly, a bill that seeks mandatory registration of all bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and online journalists with a National Digital Content Registry.

The group also vowed to name, shame, and prosecute any creator—inside or outside its fold—who weaponizes lies, set up a fact-checking platform, while pledging full support to law enforcement.

The statement reads in part:

The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) stands united with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, in sounding the alarm on the devastating impact of misinformation.

This is a clarion call to every Nigerian—creator, sharer, or citizen. The spread of falsehoods is not a bloggers-only problem; it is a national security threat that demands collective action.

LANDMARK LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE
BAVCCA shall be formally submitting the Digital Content Practitioners (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2025 to the National Assembly. The bill seeks:
Mandatory registration of all bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and online journalists with a National Digital Content Registry.
Annual licensing tied to verifiable identity, ethics training, and compliance with the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and NUJ Code of Ethics.

Criminal penalties for unregistered operators who publish content that incites violence, spreads health disinformation,

Universal Pre-Publication Fact-Check Mandate
Every individual or platform publishing content on security, health, religion, or politics must verify with at least two independent, credible sources before posting. BAVCCA launches the #VerifyWith2 public campaign to enforce this standard.

National Misinformation Rapid Response Network (MRRN)
A coalition of fact-checkers, tech platforms, and civil society, led by BAVCCA, will operate a 24/7 hotline (0700-VERIFY-NG) and app for real-time debunking. Any viral false claim will trigger automated community notes on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Prosecution Without Fear or Favor

BAVCCA pledges full support to law enforcement. Under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, any person—member or non-member—who knowingly spreads false information that endangers public safety will face arrest and prosecution. We shall submit a list of 47 repeat offenders to the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit.

Free Annual Ethics & AI Literacy Training
Starting 1 January 2026, BAVCCA will offer nationwide free workshops (physical and virtual) on spotting deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and responsible content creation. Certification will be required for registration under the new bill.

₦50 Million Whistleblower Reward Fund
Open to all Nigerians. Report verified fake news via verify@bavcca.org.ng and earn up to ₦100,000 per confirmed case. Funds are seeded by BAVCCA and corporate partners.

Tech Platform Accountability Pact
BAVCCA has secured commitments from Meta, Google, TikTok, and X to:
Prioritize fact-checked content in Nigerian feeds
Demonetize accounts with 3+ verified misinformation strikes
Share anonymized data on viral falsehoods with the MRRN

A CALL TO EVERY NIGERIAN
Creators: Register now at registry.bavcca.org.ng. Your license is your shield and your duty.

Citizens: Pause. Verify. Report. Use #BAVCCAVerify to tag suspicious posts.
Parents & Teachers: Teach digital literacy—misinformation starts in group chats.
Government & Platforms: Fast-track the Digital Content Bill. The time for voluntary compliance is over.

BAVCCA will name, shame, and prosecute any creator—inside or outside our fold—who weaponizes lies. Truth is not negotiable,” the statement concluded.

Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, NCCSO, has faulted the directive of the federal government’s deferment of the 15% import duty on premium motor spirit (PMS) and diesel to the first quarter of 2026 describing it as strategic move to strangulate local refineries and also victory for foreign fuel importers and their local collaborators.

NCCSO expressed this displeasure on Thursday in press statement issued in Abuja by its National Spokesperson, Comrade Mustapha Ahmed, saying the deferment to first quarter of 2026 must be wrong and should be totally discouraged, with no further extensions.

They said the government must resist pressures from international traders and uphold its commitment to energy independence, calling on all relevant agencies to monitor imports to prevent market distortion during the deferment period.

According to the coalition, “The deferment is a temporary win for importers but a setback for Nigeria’s refining future. President Bola Tinubu must remain resolute and protect Nigeria’s local industries from external manipulation”, NCCSO said.

The statement further reads: “The NCCSO expresses deep concern over the Federal Government’s decision to defer the commencement of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Diesel to the first quarter of 2026, as contained in the memo approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on November 7, 2025.

“While the decision is presented as an administrative adjustment for “technical alignment,” it is in fact a strategic victory for foreign fuel importers and their local collaborators, whose agenda is to keep Nigeria dependent on imported products and frustrate the growth of local refineries such as Dangote Refinery and other modular plants ready for operation.

“The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), led by Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Ph.D., had earlier proposed the levy to promote local refining, stabilize market prices, and ensure competitive balance — in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. However, this deferment gives importers time to flood the market with imported fuel, thereby undermining local production and discouraging investment”.

A significant legal controversy has emerged surrounding the orders issued by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu on October 25, 2025, in the ongoing case between Nestoil and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited under Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025. The case has drawn intense scrutiny as the First Charge Holders—Glencore Energy UK Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mauritius Commercial Bank, and African Finance Corporation—seek to have the Ex-parte orders granted to Nestoil overturned.

The First Charge Holders argue that the orders, which allow Nestoil to appoint a receiver/manager over the assets of the Defendants, were obtained under false pretenses. They claim that the orders unlawfully restrict their ability to manage their financial interests, particularly with regard to the 2nd Defendant, Neconde Energy Limited. In response, the Senior Lenders filed a motion on November 6, 2025, requesting to join the suit and have the Ex-parte orders of October 25 set aside.

In a detailed 335-page affidavit, the First Charge Holders contend that the orders were granted without full disclosure of critical facts. They accuse the Plaintiffs of misrepresenting the situation to the court and sought the removal of Mr. Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, the appointed receiver/manager, claiming the appointment was based on fraudulent information. The affidavit further highlights that Neconde’s interest in OML 42 had already been pledged as collateral to secure loans from the First Charge Holders, and therefore, the Plaintiffs should not have been allowed to include these assets in their motion without consent.

Despite these objections, Justice Dipeolu issued orders that impacted Neconde’s assets, including its interest in OML 42, even though the First Charge Holders did not authorize any additional charges. This has led to questions about the legal grounds for such far-reaching orders, particularly given that no formal debenture or charge document was presented by the Plaintiffs to justify their claims on the 2nd Defendant’s assets.

The situation has escalated further as the Plaintiffs, through their Ex-parte motion, sought approval for the involvement of the police, Navy, and DSS in the enforcement of the orders. These measures, which included the seizure of crude oil and Neconde’s assets in OML 42, have drawn widespread criticism for their excessive nature, with experts warning that they could severely harm the Defendants’ business operations.

Legal professionals have referenced previous Supreme Court rulings, such as in the ECOBANK vs. Honeywell Flour Mills case, which cautioned against granting Ex-parte orders without sufficient evidence. The Court had ruled that asset-freezing orders should only be granted when there is clear evidence that the defendant is likely to dissipate or hide assets.

As the controversy continues to unfold, there are increasing calls for the National Judicial Council to investigate Justice Dipeolu’s conduct in the case. Allegations of bias and judicial overreach have raised concerns about the fairness of the Ex-parte orders, with many questioning whether they were granted in accordance with proper legal procedures. This case is set to become a crucial point of reference for future discussions on judicial discretion and the use of Ex-parte orders in commercial litigation in Nigeria.