We will pursue legal action against social media user over false flood video — Lagos gov’t

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The Lagos State Government has revealed that it will pursue legal action against a social media user for allegedly spreading false information after sharing a flood video wrongly attributed to Lagos State.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a series of posts on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday.

According to Wahab, the viral flood video shared by X user @Jamessucre2, also known as Enugu Loudspeaker, was not recorded in Lagos but in Bangladesh.

He reiterated that while the government respects citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, such rights must be be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law.

“While we acknowledge and respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, it is important to recognise that every right comes with corresponding responsibilities and legal limits.”

“The deliberate dissemination of false information and misleading narratives not only undermines the efforts of the Lagos State Government but also diminishes the credibility of genuine complaints raised by well-meaning residents,” Wahab said.

He urged the social media user to verify the authenticity and origin of content before sharing it online, warning that the spread of inaccurate information misleads the public and distracts from legitimate conversations about issues affecting the state.

“The flood video you shared and attributed to Lagos State is actually from Bangladesh. We kindly encourage you to verify the authenticity and origin of such content before sharing it, as the dissemination of inaccurate information can mislead the public and undermine genuine discussions about issues affecting Lagos,” he stated.

Wahab further revealed that although the user had deleted the post, the state government would still proceed with legal action.

“Taking down the post after misleading the public does not absolve you of the responsibility. Appropriate legal action will still be pursued, and this matter will be taken to its logical conclusion in accordance with the law,” he added.

The development comes amid increased public scrutiny over flooding in parts of Lagos following recent heavy rainfall, with the state government urging residents to verify information before sharing it on social media to curb the spread of misinformation.