The Federal Government has declared hate speech as an act of terrorism and warned that it will, henceforth, prosecute those who indulge in the practice. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said henceforth, offenders of dangerous comments would be treated in accordance with the 2011 terrorism Act.

The minister who spoke yesterday at the second National Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kano reminded that government directive from National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction any broadcast station who allows its airwave to be used as medium for promotion of hate speeches, is still in place.

According to Mohammed, the Federal Government has continued to promote ethical standard and the core responsibility of the Journalism profession, but an attempt to circumvent its rightful position in the society could be inimical to the national cohesion.He said the media as moulder of public view has huge responsibility of preserving national unity, public values and peaceful co-existence.