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.
