Lagos State Government is targeting two million followers, by June, on its online social platform, Citizens Gate.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, set the target on Monday at the 2018 Social Media Week Lagos which began today.
Recall that the government launched the mobile app in January 2017 to facilitate interaction between it and the state residents.
Citizens Gate, launched under the Citizens Relations Management initiative of the government, will enable the residents to make enquiries and suggestions on government services and get faster responses.
Bamigbetan was in the panel that discussed the topic: ”Bringing Lagos Closer through Social Media-Inspired Community Journalism”.
The 2018 Social Media Week Lagos is the sixth edition.
The week-long event, with the theme: ‘Closer, will feature discussions covering the future of media, travel, governance and gender inclusion.
The event will also feature discussion on entertainment and emerging ideas and trends across the globe.
Bamigbetan said that Lagos State Government would collaborate with experts to achieve the feat.
“There is power in social media; it helps us to communicate and get feedback from citizens in a short time.
“Social media is a platform that everyone needs to be on; the government will leverage on it so as to meet the needs of its citizens,” he said.
Bamigbetan urged caution while responding to issues posted on the platform.
“One needs not allow emotions to take over while responding to issues on the platform, as oppositions will capitalise on the issue to bring one down.
“Having a cool headed will allow one to manage issues with citizens online; in doing this, one needs to understand that some people lack online etiquette,” he said.
The commissioner urged members of the public to be active on the platform which, he said, would enable the state government to direct complaints to the right directions.
Ms Tosyn Bucknor, Digital Editor, KWESE Africa, who was also in the panel, said that social media was controlling community-inspired journalism.
She, however, noted that such journalism had source verification challenge.
According to her, verification of news sources was necessary for credibility.
“Anybody can come online and post whatever he wants, to buttress a point, not minding if it is real or fake.
“We need to understand that online news spreads like wildfire; so, we need to find out who are the sources so as not to fall short of the law.
“We should not sacrifice the credibility for breaking a news story,’’ she advised.
Mr Odion Aleobua, Founder, Insidemainland/ Modion Communications, an online newspaper, said: “The beauty of social media is that one is able to know who is being followed.
“The traceability is instant, and this helps in monitoring people; on insidemainland is a portal where people can engage each other online.
He urged community journalists to see themselves as advocates of communities.
“This will help governments to know the needs of citizens,’’ he said.
Mrs Funke Treasure-Durodalo, Assistant Director, Programmes, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, said that there was the need to engage communities constantly to achieve the needed information flow.
She said that community reporting had to do with citizens’ empowerment, urging that government should, therefore, engage communities in the right manner.
“Viral news, whether good or bad, goes a long way in making or marring the citizens,” she said.
She cautioned against sensationalism to avoid pushing out falsehood to the public and contravene the law.
Mr Adedayo Akintobi, Publisher, Today Community newspaper, said that social media had become the choice in disseminating information.
“But for community purposes, print is the best.
“Community members want to feel, touch and see information about them; this is the main reason Today Community newspaper is sticking to print,” he said.
