The Lagos State Government has warned residents against sharing fake flood videos and other misleading content on social media, urging them to verify the authenticity of such materials before circulating them.
The warning followed the circulation of a viral video on social media falsely claiming to show flooding in parts of Lagos, which the state government said was actually recorded in Bangladesh.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued the warning on Tuesday in a post on his official X account while reacting to the viral video shared by an X user identified as Sommy.
According to Wahab, the deliberate spread of false information and misleading narratives undermines the government’s efforts to address environmental challenges and diminishes the credibility of genuine complaints raised by residents.
“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,” he said.
Wahab urged residents to verify the authenticity and origin of online content before sharing it, warning that the spread of inaccurate information could mislead the public and distort discussions on issues affecting the state.
“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,” he added.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transparency and accountability, while urging residents to use social media responsibly and ensure public discussions are driven by verified facts rather than misinformation.