Abstract

Fake news is not a new issue, but it poses a greater challenge now. The velocity of information has increased drastically, with messages now spreading internationally within seconds online. The flood of information overwhelms readers, yet older markers of veracity have not kept pace, nor has the ability to counter false or fake news grown correspondingly. National security is a concept championed and advanced by governments to protect the state and its citizens against all kinds of national and international crises through a variety of power projections. After World War II, the United States arguably developed the concept, focusing on military might. But in contemporary times, it encompasses a broad range of non-military elements and values espoused by nation-states. The postulation of Source Credibility and Hegemony Theories serve as the framework. The paper is predominantly based on information derived from secondary sources, such as relevant texts, journals, official publications, historical documents, and the Internet, which served as tangible sources of insight into the analysis based on thematic areas. This allowed for the evaluation of existing knowledge for the purposes of relevance, consistency, replication, and refutation. The paper argues that efforts to counter fake news must comprise both legislative and non-legislative approaches; each has its implications and challenges while taking into account several considerations. The paper concludes that the implications of fake news to Nigeria’s national security are vast, affecting public safety, political stability, economic security, and the unity of the country. Countering these effects requires government action, media literacy, and robust fact-checking mechanisms to reduce the spread of disinformation and protect national security.

Key Words: Fake News, Media, National Security, Post-Truth Era. Source Credibility

About the Authors

* Eric Msughter Aondover, Ph.D is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Nigeria, with specialization in Media and Communication Research. His research interest include: media literacy, media and gender, media and society, digital media, media and conflict and political communication.

** Tosin Nurat Yusuf-Audu is a PhD candidate at the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria and a Lecturer in the Department of Broadcast, Film and Multimedia, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria. Her research interest include: film, media and gender, social media, and digital media.      

*** Omolara Oluwabusayo Akin-Odukoya is a PhD student in the Department of Mass Communication, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Nigeria. Her area of research interest include: public relations, advertising, media and society, and social media.

**** Onaopepo Ibrahim Bamidele is Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and a Ph.D. student at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. His research interests include the use of media for promoting indigenous language, public relations, strategic communication advertising, and the new media.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 1, Special Issue 4, January 2026, pp. 120-129.

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Aondover, E. M., Yusuf-Audu, T. N., Akin-Odukoya, O. O. & Bamidele, O. I. (2026). Implications of fake news on national security in the post-truth era. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 18 (1, SP.4): 120-129.

Full Article

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