The European Union has warned that the surge in foreign information manipulation and disinformation poses a growing threat to Nigeria’s democracy, media integrity, and public trust.

The warning was issued on Monday in Abuja during a one-day capacity-building workshop on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) organised for members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN).

Delivering the opening remarks, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot said false or misleading information—whether generated for political influence, commercial benefit, or malicious deception—has become one of the most destabilising forces shaping public discourse globally.

He added that the consequences are particularly severe when disinformation is deliberately designed to deceive and then disseminated to unsuspecting citizens.

He noted that the media remains a pillar of democratic society, and any erosion of its credibility directly threatens governance and social stability. “When people lose faith in such a critical institution, democracy is at risk, and society itself becomes gravely endangered,” he warned.

Mignot stressed that journalists sit at a high-risk intersection within the information chain because they decide what reaches the public. For this reason, he said, they often become primary targets of manipulation campaigns. Once the media is misled, he explained, the entire society becomes vulnerable to deception.

He highlighted the dual role that both journalists and diplomats share in preserving credibility. “If we want to remain reliable, we must ensure that the information we disseminate is accurate,” he added.

The envoy while stating that emerging technologies have made communication faster and more accessible, however warned that they have also created sophisticated tools capable of falsifying or recreating realities with ease.

He noted that deepfakes, doctored videos, manipulated images, and AI-generated content now circulate with a level of authenticity that makes them difficult to distinguish from legitimate information.

He referenced a 2024 report by the European Parliament showing that 85% of people globally are worried about disinformation’s impact on their societies, while 87% believe it has already distorted political life.

Mignot noted that Nigeria faces similar challenges. Citing a 2020 Centre for Democracy and Development report, he said disinformation in the country has grown to unprecedented levels, aggravating existing ethnic and religious divisions. With information now spreading rapidly across text, audio, memes, images, and videos, the nation’s traditional “rumour mill” has gained powerful new tools.

The EU outlined a range of interventions designed to strengthen media literacy and counter disinformation in Nigeria and across West Africa. These include monitoring disinformation campaigns, especially those targeting elections, and enhancing media literacy through nationwide training programmes.

Earlier this year, the EU facilitated fact-checking training for members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos and continued to support Nigeria’s leading fact-checking platforms, including Dubawa. It has also sponsored Nigerian journalists to attend advanced trainings in Europe, including missions to conflict areas such as Ukraine.

Mignot reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to partnering with civil society organisations, media institutions, and youth groups to reinforce public access to credible information.

Mignot revealed that revealed that members of DICAN were chosen for the workshop, as they play a crucial role in interpreting foreign information for domestic audiences. Their reporting on international affairs, including EU activities in Nigeria, places them at a critical junction between global narratives and national understanding.

He acknowledged DICAN’s demonstrated interest in combating disinformation, recalling the association’s earlier engagement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July.

The EU cautioned that organised disinformation campaigns in West Africa—including those that glamorise anti-democratic actors—continue to erode peace and stability in the region. Nigeria, he said, must remain vigilant against efforts to distort public perception or undermine the credibility of democratic leadership.

The workshop aims to equip journalists with tools to recognise and counter foreign information manipulation, strengthen newsroom verification processes, and improve the resilience of the Nigerian media space.

Expressing optimism, the envoy said: “It is my hope that this training enhances your professional capacity and strengthens your ability to serve society with accuracy, responsibility and integrity.” (AriseNews TV)

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