FRSC SOCIAL MEDIA BLUNDER

The deleted tweet

Once again, we've come face to face with the shameless inefficiency of federal parastatals in Nigeria. About an hour ago, the twitter handle of the Federal Road Safety Commission (@FRSCNigeria) posted a tweet that a fully loaded Bus Rapid Transit (popularly known as BRT) ran off the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos, Nigeria and plunged into the lagoon. It said rescue efforts were ongoing. Immediately, without verifying, some online news agencies posted it and as it is with rumours, it spread.

After well meaning Nigerians who heard the news made efforts to confirm the tragedy by paying a visit to the Third Mainland Bridge, they were relieved but surprised to find it was a rumour. After several attempts to get confirmation from FRSC via their twitter handle, they deleted the tweet and claimed it was a "retweet". Such a brazen lie! When Nigerians who were misinformed by the false report demanded an apology, they, resorted to blocking such followers.

Response Tweet

I felt particularly insulted because I became an unwitting "rumour monger" in my bid to spread the news in order to ensure the victims got help in good time; as did so many other Nigerians. For the record, the Federal Road Safety Commission owes Nigerians an unreserved apology for such a blunder. If it is to extort Nigerians with the useless new car number plates that serve no sensible purpose, they have no qualms. In more civilized climes, this is sufficient ground for a law suit.

For the online news media companies that broadcasted the news without any form of verification and thereby, almost caused a nation wide panic, we now see how you do business. So long as it is bad news, whether verified or not, it sells right? God is watching all of you!

I hope somebody gets cautioned for this social media fiasco.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Follow on twitter @saymalcolm