CCC Hosts National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication
The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) on Monday, 24 November 2025, convened key stakeholders across government, security agencies, media, and the technology sector at the National Defence College, Abuja, for a National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to misinformation, insecurity, and emergency communication challenges in the digital age.
The symposium, themed “Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Transform Crisis Communication,” brought together policymakers, regulators, journalists, development partners, and digital experts to examine how technology-driven tools can improve real-time information flow, inter-agency coordination, and public trust during crises.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, warned that digital misinformation now travels faster than verified information, posing serious risks to national security and public stability.
The NITDA DG called for the establishment of a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) task force to combat crisis-related misinformation, stressing that technology must be proactively leveraged to detect false narratives before they escalate into social unrest.
He disclosed that major digital platforms such as Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok deactivated over 28 million Nigerian accounts within one year, underscoring the scale of online abuse, fake news, and coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting the country.
According to him, knowledge-driven, technology-enabled strategies are now central to modern crisis management, adding that Nigeria must adopt stronger AI governance frameworks and digital literacy programmes to protect citizens and institutions.
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris Malagi, who was represented at the event by the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Ndace, emphasised the importance of responsible crisis reporting in an era where technology shapes public perception and national security communication.
He noted that accurate, timely, and ethical reporting remains critical to governance, democratic stability, and public confidence, urging the media and digital platforms to uphold professional standards while leveraging innovation.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd.), stated that real-time crises now demand rapid and reliable communication responses, as delays or misinformation can worsen insecurity and undermine public trust.
The CCC Chairman stressed that crisis communication must be treated as a national security priority, requiring collaboration among security agencies, regulators, the media, and technology providers.
He noted that CCC convened the symposium to bridge institutional gaps, promote verified information flow during emergencies, and advance policies that integrate emerging technologies into Nigeria’s crisis response architecture.
Other speakers and panelists at the symposium echoed calls for integrated digital platforms, stronger public-private collaboration, and institutional frameworks that support early warning systems, real-time reporting, data protection, and platform accountability.
In a related presentation, the Editor-in-Chief of PREMIUM TIMES, Musikilu Mojeed, advocated the creation of a mobile application for real-time reporting of kidnappings, robberies, and attacks, noting that citizen-driven reporting, if properly verified, can support faster security response.
Participants agreed that Nigeria’s evolving insecurity landscape requires a coordinated digital crisis communication ecosystem that balances speed, accuracy, accountability, and public trust.
The symposium concluded with a consensus that while technology offers powerful tools for crisis communication, its effectiveness depends on governance, ethics, collaboration, and institutional commitment.
Organisers said outcomes from the engagement would contribute to ongoing policy conversations around AI regulation, digital security, and national information management.
