The Lagos State Government has said it will initiate legal proceedings against an X user accused of sharing a misleading flood video falsely claiming it was recorded in Lagos, insisting that deleting the post after it was exposed as false would not exempt the individual from prosecution.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a series of posts on X on Tuesday.
According to Wahab, the video circulated by the user, identified on the platform as “Enugu Loudspeaker (#Jamessucre2),” was not filmed in Lagos but originated from Bangladesh.
“The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh.
“We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos,” Wahab said.
The commissioner maintained that the removal of the post after it had been debunked would not prevent the government from pursuing legal action.
“Taking down the post after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law,” he stated.
Wahab stressed that although the Lagos State Government respects citizens’ right to freedom of expression, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the confines of the law.
“While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognize that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits,” he said.
He further argued that “the deliberate dissemination of false information and misleading narratives not only undermines the efforts of the Lagos State Government but also diminishes the credibility of genuine complaints raised by well-meaning residents.”
Following the government’s clarification, the X user acknowledged that the footage did not originate from Nigeria and confirmed that the post had been deleted.
“It’s been confirmed to have happened outside the country. The post has been taken down,” the user wrote.
Despite the retraction, the Lagos State Government reiterated its resolve to proceed with legal action over what it described as the deliberate dissemination of false information.
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