The European Union has warned that the growing surge of foreign information manipulation and disinformation poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy, media integrity and public trust.
The caution was delivered on Monday in Abuja at a one-day capacity-building workshop on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) organised for members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN).
In his opening remarks, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described false or misleading information—whether deployed for political influence, commercial gain or malicious intent—as one of the most destabilising forces shaping global public discourse. He said the impact becomes particularly severe when disinformation is deliberately crafted to deceive and spread among unsuspecting citizens.
Mignot emphasised that the media remains a cornerstone of democratic governance, warning that any erosion of its credibility endangers both the democratic process and societal stability. “When people lose faith in such a critical institution, democracy is at risk, and society itself becomes gravely endangered,” he said.
He noted that journalists, situated at a key intersection of the information chain, often become prime targets of manipulation. When the media is misled, he added, entire societies become vulnerable to deception. Both journalists and diplomats, he stressed, share a responsibility to ensure that the information they disseminate is accurate and credible.
The envoy also highlighted the challenges posed by emerging technologies, which, while improving access to communication, have enabled sophisticated tools capable of falsifying or recreating realities. Deepfakes, doctored videos, manipulated images and AI-generated content, he said, now circulate with alarming authenticity.
Citing a 2024 European Parliament report, he noted that 85% of people worldwide are concerned about the societal impact of disinformation, while 87% believe it has already distorted political life. Nigeria, he said, faces similar challenges, referencing a 2020 Centre for Democracy and Development report which found that disinformation has aggravated ethnic and religious divisions in the country. With information now spreading through text, audio, memes, images and videos, the nation’s traditional “rumour mill” has acquired new, more potent tools.
The EU outlined several interventions aimed at strengthening media literacy and countering disinformation across Nigeria and West Africa. These include monitoring disinformation campaigns—especially those targeting elections—enhancing media literacy and expanding nationwide training programmes.
Earlier this year, the EU organised fact-checking training for members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and continues to support leading fact-checking organisations such as Dubawa. It has also sponsored Nigerian journalists for advanced training in Europe, including missions to conflict zones such as Ukraine.
Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to partnering with civil society organisations, media institutions and youth groups to enhance public access to credible information. He said DICAN members were selected for the workshop because of their critical role in interpreting foreign information for Nigerian audiences, especially in reporting international affairs and EU activities in the country.
He also acknowledged DICAN’s previous engagements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its demonstrated dedication to combating disinformation.
The EU warned that coordinated disinformation campaigns in West Africa—particularly those promoting anti-democratic actors—continue to undermine peace and stability in the region. Nigeria, it stressed, must remain vigilant against efforts to distort public perception or weaken democratic institutions.
The workshop is designed to equip journalists with tools to identify and counter foreign information manipulation, improve newsroom verification processes and bolster the overall resilience of Nigeria’s media environment.
