Is it possible for me to sneak out of Nigeria without any notice? Lai asked Nigerians

Lai Mohammad, the minister of information and culture, says the federal government will not rest until social media platforms are regulated.

The minister, in an interview with NAN in Washington today, said the dangers of fake news on social media must be taken seriously.

Mohammad noted that the online media report that he “sneaked out of Nigeria to meet with Twitter executive’’ in the US is fake.

The minister said he came to the US to meet with international media organisations and think tanks on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and efforts made so far in tackling insurgency, banditry, and all forms of criminality.

The minister who has so far engaged with the BBC Radio and TV, Bloomberg, and Polico during his visit to Washington DC, said he had no mission with Twitter on his trip.

“Can a minister sneak out of Nigeria without people knowing? When you say I sneaked out of Nigeria, are you saying I went to board at a terminal where nobody is or I travelled to the Republic of Benin to fly out of the country?” he asked.

“I was at an international airport, where I presented myself openly and I was checked in at the counter like every other traveller of the airline. I boarded and passed through the checks by the immigration service and customs.

“How can you come and say I sneaked out of the country? You and I have been here, have I met with any Twitter official­?

“When you talk about fake news and its dangers, we need to take it seriously and I am happy that the entire world is now seeing what we saw more than two years ago. I can assure you that we will not rest until we regulate the social media. Otherwise, nobody will survive it.”