The ECOWAS Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting credible communication, democratic stability and responsible digital governance in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The assurance was given on Tuesday in Lagos by Francis Ezekiel of the ECOWAS Directorate of Communication during the ongoing meeting of Nigerian regulators on information integrity in preparation for the elections.
The two-day gathering brought together regulators, civil society groups and development partners to discuss measures aimed at protecting the information ecosystem from misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes before the polls.
Speaking at the event, Ezekiel said the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with GIZ and the Media Foundation for West Africa, had trained more than 500 journalists across the region within the past year on combating false information and understanding its effect on peace and stability.
He noted that ECOWAS had also reviewed its communication and information policy to tackle emerging concerns associated with social media, artificial intelligence, misinformation and disinformation.
According to him, the wide participation at the meeting reflected a common understanding that safeguarding information integrity requires collective efforts and stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, media professionals, civil society organisations and development partners.
Ezekiel further described Nigeria as one of Africa’s largest democratic and digital environments, stressing that developments in the country significantly influence information flow and public discourse across the continent.
He added that lessons from Nigeria’s experience would contribute meaningfully to broader regional strategies on democratic resilience and information integrity.
The ECOWAS official also highlighted the importance of the Practical Guide for Regulatory Bodies, which served as the foundation for the meeting, describing it as both relevant and timely.
According to him, the guide offers practical recommendations for regulators and stakeholders in addressing emerging threats within digital platforms and the wider information ecosystem.
He added that the framework also encourages transparency, accountability, institutional independence, collaboration among stakeholders and human rights-based approaches to digital governance.
In her remarks, GIZ Nigeria representative, Lillian Seffer, emphasised the urgent need to tackle misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
She warned that unchecked false information could negatively affect citizens and undermine democratic processes.
“Addressing disinformation is not merely a technical issue; it is closely tied to trust, transparency, credible public communication and democratic governance,” she said.
The Practical Guide for Regulatory Bodies implementing the Praia Policy Framework was developed following the Praia Regional Conference to encourage a coordinated approach to information integrity policies.
The framework is designed to improve digital platform governance, protect human rights, strengthen public resilience against hate speech and false information, expand access to information of public interest and encourage cooperation among stakeholders across West Africa and the Sahel.