The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have raised concerns over the circulation of false and unverified information on social media, warning that irresponsible communication can aggravate insecurity and trigger unnecessary public panic.
Officials of both organizations spoke during a nationwide awareness campaign in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum scheduled for November.
The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the NIPR began its sensitization campaign from the Zoological Garden in Area 1, Abuja, encouraging Nigerians to verify information before sharing it online.
Federal Capital Territory Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, warned that old photographs and videos from previous conflicts were sometimes presented online as evidence of current events.
He said such practices could inflame tensions, provoke fear and potentially expose innocent citizens to attacks.
According to Odumosu, freedom to communicate comes with a responsibility to ensure that information being distributed does not endanger other people or undermine public safety.
He said citizens should avoid sharing material capable of promoting violence, kidnapping, banditry or hostility between communities.
Chairman of the National Planning Committee for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, Suleiman Haruna, said rapid developments in social media and artificial intelligence had created additional challenges for information integrity.
Haruna acknowledged the constitutional right to freedom of expression but stressed that the exercise of that right should take account of the rights and safety of others.
He said the forum would examine how information is created, distributed and consumed in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
A member of the planning committee, Inimfon Etuk, said the awareness campaign was intended to build public interest in the international gathering, which is expected to attract public relations practitioners and strategic communication professionals.
Chairman of the NIPR Federal Capital Territory Chapter, Stanley Ogadigo, said Nigeria secured the right to host the event following a competitive process.
The country will host the World Public Relations Forum alongside the 37th annual conference of the African Public Relations Association.
Organizers are positioning the forum as an opportunity to strengthen conversations around responsible communication at a time when misinformation, artificial intelligence and rapidly expanding digital platforms are reshaping the global information environment.
