LAGOS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Friday rejected predictions by two British-based institutions over the 2019 elections as fake and psychological warfare against the administration' anti-corruption policies.
The government was not surprised and would not lose sleep over the predictions by HSBC and the Economist, because "President Muhammadu Buhari's administration is on course and delivering dividends of democracy to the people," Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said in Lagos.
He spoke at an event to drum up support for a national campaign against fake news.
"We have all read that the Intelligence Unit of the Economist said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will defeat the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019," he said.
"We have also read that the international financial institution, HSBC, said Nigeria's economic development will be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term," the minister added.
"Let me state clearly that these reports are based on fake premises and, therefore, qualify as fake news," he said.
Mohammed said the fake news phenomenon would get worse as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.
He appealed to the media to drive the campaign against fake news, saying if left unchecked, fake news has the capacity to disrupt the peace and unity of the country.
Mohammed said the government will neither coerce nor censor but continue to appeal for the sensibility of the media to self-regulate.
