NPC Links Fake News Spread to Financial Motives
The Nigerian Press Council (NPC) has attributed the rising spread of fake news and misinformation in the country to financial inducements.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday at the annual regional workshop themed “Public Trust and Ethical Journalism in the Digital Age,” the council’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Dili Ezughah, said many individuals and organisations deliberately publish false or sensational content for monetary gain.
“Fake news thrives because of money, just the same way people resort to criminality for money. That is why we need sustained education. Nigerians must understand that not everything they see, read, or hear is factual. It must be double-checked,” Ezughah stated.
While acknowledging that political, religious, and ethnic biases also contribute to misinformation, he maintained that profit remains the strongest driver.
He called for continuous media literacy to help citizens resist manipulation and urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards to rebuild trust in the media.
Other speakers at the workshop echoed similar concerns. Prof. Olunifesi Suraj of the University of Lagos called for the creation of fact-checking desks in newsrooms to enhance credibility and emphasised that journalism risks losing relevance when reporters distance themselves from communities.
He also criticised the casual use of the term “citizen journalism,” stressing that access to digital tools does not equate to professional training.
Consulting Editor of Business Hallmark, Mr. Richard Mammah, in his presentation on “Media as a Mass Educator,”urged journalists to balance technology use with ethical practice while remaining versatile and people-centred.
Participants, including journalists, communication scholars, and students, agreed that financial desperation and unchecked commercialisation remain major threats to ethical journalism and public trust in Nigeria’s media landscape.
