The National Digital Peace Ambassadors (NDPA) has unveiled a civic initiative to promote responsible online engagement and combat misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and other harmful digital content.
The National Secretary of the organization, Ms Erikan Obong, announced the initiative at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The event, themed “Digital Peace and National Security: Building Responsible Voices for a United Nigeria,” focused on the growing influence of digital platforms on public opinion, social relations and political discourse.
Obong said the need for the initiative had become urgent as the battle for national peace increasingly shifted from physical communities and political rallies to the digital space.
“The battle for national peace is no longer confined to physical communities and political rallies, but a significant part of the struggle is now online,” she said.
She warned that a single unverified message, manipulated video or inflammatory post could spread across communities within seconds, triggering fear, anger and mistrust before facts emerged.
Obong also raised concerns about the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate information, saying the technology could make it more difficult to protect information integrity and prevent local disputes from escalating into national crises.
“False allegations can be linked to entire ethnic or religious groups. Old videos can be passed off as new events. Fake statements can be credited to public officials,” she said.
The NDPA national secretary further warned of the potential impact of misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that political, ethnic and religious tensions could create fertile ground for propaganda, false claims and manipulated content.
“The next national crisis may not start with the sound of violence. It may begin with a notification such as a post, a video, a fabricated result or a false accusation,” she said.
Obong stressed that the initiative would not seek to restrict freedom of expression, noting that Nigerians must retain the right to criticize government and engage in public debate responsibly.
“A peaceful digital space must not mean a silent digital space. Nigeria needs responsible freedom, not fearful silence,” she said.
She said NDPA would promote peace-oriented online engagement, fact-checking, non-violent responses to harmful narratives, national unity and digital peace education.
The organization, she added, would pursue partnerships with government agencies, security institutions, media organizations, civil society groups, schools, technology companies, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
Obong urged Nigerians, particularly influencers and content creators, to verify information before sharing it online.
“We should always check this – is it true? Is it verified? Is it necessary? Can it cause harm”?
“Not everything that comes to your phone deserves to leave your phone”.
“You may think you are only creating content. But someone is learning from you. Someone is copying you. Someone is believing you. Do not sell Nigeria’s peace for views,” she said.
She also called on the government to strengthen timely public communication and protect the integrity of information during elections.
Obong urged authorities to treat digital peace as part of conflict prevention, strengthen measures against coordinated manipulation and AI-generated disinformation, and prioritize fact-checking and context over the rush to publish information.
