Ayodeji Ake
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has warned that the rising use of synthetic intelligence(AI) to generate pretend information, deepfakes and fabricated audio recordings might undermine democracy, public belief and nationwide safety.
He stated the rising sophistication of disinformation had made it simpler to govern public opinion, distort political debates and flow into false narratives able to triggering violence and social unrest.
Mohammed gave the warning lately whereas delivering the maiden public lecture of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, titled, “Fake News, Disinformation and Artificial Intelligence: Defending Truth and Public Trust in the Digital Age.”
The former minister, who served between 2015 and 2023, stated AI had basically modified the data panorama by making it potential to provide convincing pretend images, movies, voices and whole personalities at comparatively little value.
“The greater danger is that AI may create an environment in which people stop believing anything,” he stated.
He warned that the emergence of deepfakes might make it more and more troublesome to determine the authenticity of digital proof, notably throughout elections and politically delicate intervals.
According to him, the issue might additionally encourage people confronted with real proof to dismiss it as fabricated.
He described this because the ‘liar’s dividend’, explaining that folks might exploit public consciousness of AI-generated content material to disclaim real recordings or proof.
“This presents a profound challenge to journalism, law enforcement, the courts, elections and democratic accountability,” he stated.
Reflecting on his expertise in authorities, Mohammed recalled that the federal authorities launched the National Campaign Against Fake News and Misinformation in July 2018 after recognising the implications of false info for nationwide safety and social cohesion.
He stated the initiative adopted a rare session of the National Council on Information held in Jos, Plateau State, in July 2017, which targeted on pretend information and hate speech.
Recalling his private expertise, the previous minister disclosed {that a} false report alleging he had $1.2 billion in his checking account as soon as created rigidity in his household.
He stated his spouse, having seen the report, urged that she must be made a signatory to the purported account in preparation for any eventuality.
“I had to take time to explain that the report was entirely false, and that my ministry’s annual budget was only a fraction of the amount alleged,” he stated.
Mohammed additionally cited the 2018 mob violence in India, reportedly triggered by false WhatsApp messages about little one abductions, and a May 2026 incident in Ogun State the place a TikTok content material creator allegedly staged a pretend bandit assault to draw followers.
He cautioned governments in opposition to utilizing the struggle in opposition to misinformation to suppress legit criticism.
“A democratic government must not demand that citizens believe everything it says. Its responsibility is to make accurate, timely and verifiable information available,” he stated.
He urged journalists to strengthen fact-checking and verification, arguing that skilled journalism remained indispensable in an info setting more and more dominated by artificial content material.
“The more information we have, the more valuable professional verification becomes,” he added.
The former minister additionally known as on universities to make media and knowledge literacy a core part of training, stressing that college students should be taught to query sensational claims, study unique sources and confirm info earlier than sharing it.
He proposed stronger technological safeguards, accountable AI deployment, public training and safety of freedom of expression as important measures in opposition to disinformation.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, stated the college chosen the theme due to the rising problem of distinguishing genuine info from fabricated content material.
He disclosed that Nigeria recorded 157.7 million energetic web subscriptions in July 2026, in contrast with 140.3 million in August 2025.
Citing the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, Asikhia stated 84 per cent of Nigerian respondents expressed concern about distinguishing actual info from pretend content material on-line.
He stated the maiden public lecture was designed to strengthen public engagement with essential nationwide points and promote the college’s dedication to information, integrity and repair.
Mohammed, in his concluding remarks, urged Nigerians to take private duty for the data they flow into.
“When you share a video without checking it, you become part of its distribution chain,” he stated, including that residents should select verification over virality and proof over emotio
