Abdullahi made the call in a keynote address delivered at a national symposium on digital innovation in crisis communication, themed ”Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Transform Crisis Communication” on Monday in Abuja
The symposium hosted by the National Defence College was organised by Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).
The director-general noted that the speed of a crisis had leapt from the “physical messenger” era to the click‑of‑a‑mouse age.
“Twenty‑five years ago a crisis moved at the speed of a newspaper; today it races at the speed of a click,” he said.
He noted how time, once the most valuable currency in emergency response, now traded at a dramatically altered rate.
Citing research from the MIT Media Lab, the director-general highlighted a stark reality noting false news spreads six times faster than the truth, penetrating networks deeper and lingering longer because “lies are more often novel and shocking.”
He explained that the very algorithms powering social‑media platforms were engineered to amplify novelty, making misinformation inherently more viral than factual content.
Abdullahi stressed that technology itself was neutral, pointing out that ”it is the hand that wields it that determines whether it becomes a tool or a weapon.
“We can use it to protect our citizens, or we can let bad actors weaponise it,” he said.
He urged for a societal pact that turns digital platforms into early‑warning systems rather than echo chambers of chaos.
Abdullahi outlined a three‑pillar framework: a transparent takedown process, a robust content‑statement mechanism, and a multi‑stakeholder governance model.
He urged the adoption of clear, agreed upon procedures that balance the need to curb harmful content with the imperative to protect free speech, ensuring that only material that violates Nigerian law is removed.
A key element of the plan, according to him, is the newly enacted Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms.
This, he said, obliged major tech firms to register locally, file taxes, and maintain a direct communication channel with the government.
“This code has already opened a dialogue between state officials and tech giants,” Abdullahi noted, referencing recent agreements that have yielded concrete results.
The NITDA boss presented statistics at the symposium, which underscored the scale of the challenge.
”In the past year, Google deactivated 9,680,141 accounts, LinkedIn removed nearly 60 million, and TikTok contributed to the overall deactivation of over 28 million accounts.
”Collectively, the three platforms removed more than 58 million pieces of harmful content, with 420,000 later reinstated after internal reviews.”
Abdullahi pointed to the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation, which gave rise to the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, as a cornerstone for safeguarding personal data and privacy.
He announced that a more comprehensive Online Harm Protection Bill is now in the final drafting stages, aiming to provide a legal framework for online safety and mandate local fact checking teams attuned to Nigeria’s cultural context.
Emphasising that the government cannot act alone, he called for the establishment of a Centre for Crisis Management that would unite civil society organisations, security agencies, and big tech players.
“Such a centre will ensure that power remains accountable and that no single actor dominates the narrative,” he said.
He stated that the initiative would be vital for protecting democracy and preventing the abuse of digital tools.
He stressed the need to build a digital shield that leverages innovation, protects privacy, and upholds democratic values.
“We must champion this emerging framework for the sake of a safer, more united nation,” he urged
The Chairman of CCC, retired Maj-Gen Christopher Olukolade, in his opening remarks, defined crisis communication as the deliberate, coordinated, and timely dissemination of accurate information before, during, and after a crisis.
Olukolade said that the crises had become more frequent, complex, and paradoxically more predictable, testing the nation’s resilience and the credibility of its communication infrastructure.
He noted that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big‑data analytics, geospatial mapping, and mobile analytics are now game changers.
According to him, the emerging technologies can detect early warning signals, instantly disseminate verified information, and counter misinformation in real time.
He emphasised that effective crisis response now hinged on seamless coordination among security agencies, policymakers, ICT regulators, and development partners.(NAN)