Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the Nigerian government to enforce stricter regulations for social media.
In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Olayinka proposed that all Nigerians should be required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) and a valid government-issued ID—such as an international passport, voter’s card, or driver’s license—to create and operate a social media account.
He stated that the goal of this proposal is to “reduce misinformation and increase online accountability.“
Currently, Nigeria’s NIN is a prerequisite for essential services like banking and telecommunications. Olayinka believes that extending this requirement to social media would help combat the proliferation of fake accounts and bots.
By linking social media use to a verified identity, he argues, Nigeria could enhance digital accountability in the same way it has regulated other critical sectors.
